Bride Price

Also known as Progeny Price.

An amount of money or goods given to the bride's father by the groom, as a way of showing respect for the bride and her parents. It also acts as a compensation for the bride's family for the loss of her labour and fertility within her kin group. It is also a way of validating the groom's right to future offspring.

Bride price is most common among polygynous, small-scale, patrilineal societies, particularly among native Americans and in sub-Saharan Africa.

See also Brideservice and Dowry.