endogamy

plural endogamies

1. uncountableusuallyThe practice of marrying or requiring to marry within one's own ethnic, religious, or social group.

   Endogamy historically predominated in Jewish populations, giving rise to a high prevalence of genetic diseases.

   2025 September 24, Warshauer EM, Maier PA, Runfeldt G, et al., “Sephardic Origins Revealed for Rare Skin Disorder, Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, in Individuals Carrying the Unique c.6527insC Mutation”, in Journal of Medical Genetics

   2 more examples

   In the Suppliant Maidens the heroines seem to protest against endogamy, which prohibits marriage except between persons of the same blood or stock.

   1924, Herbert Weir Smyth, “VIII. Orestea. III: Eumenides”, in Aeschylean Tragedy, page 226

   Far from suggesting a demoralized culture, endogamy here seemed the mark of a buoyantly confident group, settled in their skin and not needing outsiders.

   1995, Isabel Fonseca, Bury Me Standing, Vintage, published 2007, page 24

   Synonyms: exogamy, extramarriage, heterogamy, intermarriage, mixed marriage, outmarriage · Antonyms: exogamy, exogamy, extramarriage, heterogamy, intermarriage, mixed marriage, outmarriage

2. uncountableusuallybiologyThe fusion of two related gametes.

   Antonyms: exogamy