1. the practice of marrying outside one’s own social group, clan, or tribe
Usage: anthropology; sociology

Examples

• Many traditional societies practice exogamy to strengthen alliances between different clans.
• The tribe’s rules of exogamy prevented marriage within the same lineage.
• Anthropologists study exogamy as a way cultures maintain genetic diversity.
• Exogamy was common among ancient civilizations to forge political connections.
• The community’s shift from endogamy to exogamy reflected changing social values.
• Religious exogamy became more accepted as interfaith marriages increased.