Polymorphism
//pɑliˈmɔɹfɪz(ə)m// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The ability to assume different forms or shapes. countable, uncountable
- 2 (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences) wordnet
- 3 The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents. countable, uncountable
- 4 (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound wordnet
- 5 A feature pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for a method to have several definitions. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 (genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on wordnet
- 7 The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable. countable, uncountable
- 8 The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism. countable, uncountable
- 9 The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein. countable, uncountable
"Since 1990 they have found an entirely new role: they promise understanding of how and why our genes are all so different. They hold the key to human polymorphism."
Example
More examples"Since 1990 they have found an entirely new role: they promise understanding of how and why our genes are all so different. They hold the key to human polymorphism."
Etymology
From poly- + -morphism.
Related phrases
More for "polymorphism"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.