Despite extensive research on magnetically induced ferroelectricity there exist relatively few studies on how a preexisting electric polarization affects magnetic order. Given that well-established magnetoelectric coupling schemes can in principle work in reverse, one might anticipate that primary, polar magnetic structures could be uniquely stabilized in ferroelectric crystals, however, this scenario is apparently rare. Here, we show that in ferroelectric $\mathrm{Bi}{\mathrm{Mn}}_7{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$, a pure, polar $E$-type antiferromagnetic order emerges below $T_1=59$ K, and we present a phenomenological model of trilinear magnetoelectric coupling consistent with ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{3+}$ lone-pair driven polar distortions uniquely stabilizing the polar antiferromagnetism via modulation of Heisenberg exchange pathways, i.e., inverse exchange striction. In addition, below $T_2=55$ K there occurs large commensurate canting of the $E$-type structure due to the onset of ferrimagnetic order on a separate crystallographic sublattice that may be exploited for additional magnetoelectric functionality.

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• Antiferromagnetism
• Ferroelectricity
• Magnetoelectric effect
• Multiferroics
• Perovskites
• Discrete symmetries in condensed matter
• Magnetization measurements
• Neutron scattering