Mated

Mated is the past tense and past participle of the verb mate. In a biological context, to mate means to engage in sexual reproduction; mated, then, refers to two individuals that have formed such a reproductive pair. The term is used across animals and, less commonly, in other organisms where sexual compatibility leads to reproduction. The use of "mated" often appears in field observations, breeding records, and behavioral studies to indicate a pair has formed and may attempt to reproduce, regardless of whether fertilization or offspring result.

In animals, mating behavior includes courtship, copulation, and sometimes pair bonding. Mated pairs may be solitary or social, and they can be monogamous (one partner over a breeding season or lifetime) or part of a polygynous or polyandrous system. After mating, many species form lasting bonds, defend a territory, or participate in parental care, though the duration and outcomes vary widely.

In humans and human language, "mated" is uncommon in everyday speech but appears in scientific or formal contexts to describe pairs that have produced offspring or formed a mating relationship. The concept differs from simply pairing for companionship, as mating implies reproductive potential.

See also: mating, mate (biology).