Atavism Definition

ătə-vĭzəm
atavisms
noun
atavisms
Appearance in an individual of some characteristic found in a remote ancestor but not in nearer ancestors.
Webster's New World
Such a characteristic.
Webster's New World
An individual with such a characteristic.
Webster's New World
The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence.
American Heritage Medicine
An individual or a part that exhibits atavism.
American Heritage Medicine
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Atavism

Noun

Singular:
atavism
Plural:
atavisms

Origin of Atavism

  • French atavisme from Latin atavus ancestor atta father avus grandfather awo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French atavisme.

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

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Words Starting With

AATATA

Words Ending With

MSMISM

Unscrambles

atavism

Words Starting With A and Ending With M

Starts With A & Ends With MStarts With AT & Ends With MStarts With A & Ends With SM

Word Length

7 Letter Words7 Letter Words Starting With A7 Letter Words Ending With M