sexual dimorphism

American  

noun

1. the condition in which the males and females in a species are morphologically different, as with many birds.

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sexual dimorphism British  

noun

1. biology differences in appearance between the males and females of a species

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Other Word Forms

• sexually dimorphic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sexual dimorphism

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sexual dimorphism

Differences in cancer incidence and progression between men and women have been known for decades, but a detailed understanding of sexual dimorphism in relation to cancer biology is still limited.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024

The main groups in which the phenomenon has been recorded include animal species which feature strong sexual dimorphism; most often insects, especially butterflies, crustaceans, spiders, even lizards and rodents.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 11, 2023

Many stick insects display extreme sexual dimorphism, with females unrecognizable from their male companions.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2020

Hunt had been focusing on fossil ostracods – one of the few taxa where sexual dimorphism can be readily identified in the fossil record.

From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2018

Find also the breathing pores along the sides of the abdomen.Unlikeness between male and female is called "sexual dimorphism."

From A Guide for the Study of Animals by Lucas, Frederic