Misogamy is a term of Greek origin that refers to aversion or hatred toward marriage. Etymologically, it comes from the combination of misos (μῖσος, ‘hatred’) and gamos (γάμος, ‘marriage’), and it is documented in European languages from the mid-17th century onwards. Initially, the concept was linked to certain precepts of the Christian Church related to the practice of celibacy, especially as a condition for access to ecclesiastical positions.
However, as early as the medieval period, a form of misogamy was observed among certain intellectual or religious circles, who discouraged marriage for all men, not just the clergy, often using moral, spiritual, or misogynistic arguments. In literature, misogamy has been a recurring theme, particularly in works that explore the tensions between love, individual freedom, and social institutions. This rejection of marriage can appear both from an ironic perspective and as an expression of criticism of the conventions of the time.
Today, the term is used to refer to people who reject the institution of marriage as a way of life and the traditional roles associated with it. Increasingly, other forms of sexual-affective relationships are being lived that do not involve formalized marriage, either by maintaining stable partnerships through common-law arrangements or, as in the current usage of the term misogamy, by having romantic relationships free from formal and legal commitments.