1. marriage between people of different social classes, races, or ethnic groups
Usage: sociology
2. reproduction involving the fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Usage: biology
3. the condition of having flowers of different types on the same plant or in the same species
Usage: botany

Examples

• The study examined patterns of heterogamy in urban communities.
• Sociologists noted increasing rates of heterogamy across ethnic lines.
• Many flowering plants exhibit heterogamy with both male and female flowers.
• Heterogamy in marine organisms involves sperm and egg cells of different sizes.
• The botanist observed heterogamy in the plant’s reproductive structures.
• Cultural barriers to heterogamy have decreased over recent decades.