'polyandria' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'πολυανδρίᾱ (polyandría)', where the prefix 'poly-' meant 'many' and 'anēr/andros' meant 'man'.

'polyandria' was used in Greek as 'πολυανδρίᾱ' and passed into New/Medieval Latin as 'polyandria', later entering English usage as the related form 'polyandry' (with 'polyandria' surviving as a variant).

Initially it meant 'the condition/state of having many men', but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'the practice of a woman having multiple husbands'.