Legal Definitions - plural wife

A plural wife refers to a woman who is married to a man who also has one or more other wives. This term is used in the context of polygamy, a practice where an individual has multiple spouses simultaneously. While polygamous marriages may be recognized socially or religiously within certain communities, they are generally not legally recognized in most Western countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

• Example 1: Historical Religious Community

  During the 19th century, in a newly settled territory, a man named Jacob was married to three women: Mary, Martha, and Sarah. Within their religious community, all three women were considered his legitimate wives, and their unions were accepted. Sarah, in this context, would be considered a plural wife.

  This example illustrates the term because Sarah is one of multiple women married to the same man, Jacob, a practice that was socially and religiously accepted within their specific historical community.

• Example 2: Modern Unrecognized Union

  In a contemporary community in a U.S. state where polygamy is illegal, a man named Robert lives with two women, Lisa and Karen. Robert considers both Lisa and Karen his wives, and they function as a single family unit, raising children together. While their marriages are not legally recognized by the state, within their private religious group, Karen is regarded as Robert's second wife.

  Karen is a plural wife because she is married to Robert, who also considers Lisa his wife. Even though the state does not legally acknowledge this marriage, the term applies to the social and religious reality of their relationship within their community.

• Example 3: International Legal Context

  A man from a country where polygamy is legally permitted applies for a visa to a Western nation that does not recognize polygamous marriages. He lists his two wives, Fatima and Zara, on his application. The immigration authorities must then assess the application, acknowledging that while Fatima might be recognized as a primary spouse for immigration purposes, Zara's status as a "plural wife" from their home country will not grant her the same spousal immigration benefits in the new country.

  Zara is referred to as a plural wife because, in her country of origin, she is legally married to a man who also has another wife (Fatima). The immigration authorities use this term to describe her marital status as it exists under the laws of her home country, even if the receiving country's laws do not recognize such a marriage.