What does "tropism" mean?
The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this.
Tropism
/ˈtɹəʊpɪz(ə)m/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this.
- Grammar: tropism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: a thing for, affinity, aptitude, aptness.
- Useful contrasts: broad infectivity, random growth.
- Usage evidence: When we're not feeling well, there's a tropism toward sweet things.
How to use "tropism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tropism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tropism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tropism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The turning of an organism (chiefly a plant) or part of an organism either towards or away from a stimulus; (countable) an instance of this. uncountable
"Orientation and tropism are synonymous expressions; that gatherings [of Paramecium] take place is a consequence of the orientation, and therefore throws no light whatever upon the tropisms. (Gatherings, however, are not always indicative of a tropism, i.e., of an orientation, but may be due to kinesis […]"
- 2 an involuntary orienting response; positive or negative reaction to a stimulus source wordnet
- 3 A capability or tendency for a pathogen (chiefly a virus) to infect a type of cell, tissue, organ, or host organism. broadly, countable
"host tropism tissue tropism"
- 4 Of a person: an instinctive predilection or tendency; also (generally), a liking, a preference. countable, figuratively
"It is reasonable to suppose that tropism will be less conspicuous in animals which are endowed with intelligence than in others; but well-marked tropisms are still to be found among the higher animals. Gregarious animals have a positive tropism toward the members of their own flock; the dog has a negative tropism toward his own kind and a positive tropism toward mankind."
Antonyms
broad infectivityrandom growth
Example
"When we're not feeling well, there's a tropism toward sweet things."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tropism"?
Common synonyms include: a thing for, affinity, aptitude, aptness, bent, bias.
How do you use "tropism" in a sentence?
When we're not feeling well, there's a tropism toward sweet things.
How do you pronounce "tropism"?
Pronounced /ˈtɹəʊpɪz(ə)m/.
Etymology
From -tropism (suffix meaning ‘growth towards; movement, turning’) (possibly based on geotropism and heliotropism), from Latin tropus + English -ism (suffix forming nouns of action, process, or result). Tropus is derived from Ancient Greek τρόπος (trópos, “a turn; a manner, style, way; figure of speech, trope; etc.”), from τρέπω (trépō, “to turn; to divert; to rotate or change orientation”) (from Proto-Indo-European *trep- (“to turn”)) + -ος (-os, suffix forming nouns of result or abstract nouns of action). Sense 1 (“turning of an organism or part of an organism towards or away from a stimulus”) is modelled after German Tropismus.