noun
- the practice of marrying someone of a higher social class or status
Usage: anthropological term
Examples
- The study examined patterns of hypergamy in traditional societies.
- Hypergamy was common among women seeking to improve their social standing.
- The anthropologist documented instances of hypergamy in the rural community.
- Economic factors often drive hypergamy in developing nations.
- The practice of hypergamy has declined in many modern societies.
- Her marriage represented a clear case of hypergamy within the caste system.