Serial monogamy is a term used to describe the current (assumed) most common sexual relationship pattern in contemporary Western cultures. A person may be said to be practising serial monogamy if that person only has one sexual partner at any one time, but has had more than one sexual partner in their lifetime. Partners can be married or unmarried, but there are never more than one at a time.

The term "serial monogamy" is more often descriptive than prescriptive: relatively few people expect or want their relationships to end. Similarly, even amongst those who object to divorce (often on religious grounds), many would consider remarriage acceptable following the death of a spouse.

See also: