atavism

American  

[at-uh-viz-uhm] / ˈæt əˌvɪz əm /

noun

1. Biology.

   1. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.

   2. an individual embodying such a reversion.

2. reversion to an earlier type; throwback.

---

atavism British  

/ ˈætəˌvɪzəm, əˈtævɪk /

noun

1. the recurrence in a plant or animal of certain primitive characteristics that were present in an ancestor but have not occurred in intermediate generations

2. reversion to a former or more primitive type

---

Other Word Forms

• atavic adjective
• atavist noun

Etymology

Origin of atavism

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin atav(us) “great-great-great grandfather; remote ancestor, forefather” ( at-, akin to atta familiar name for a grandfather, “grampa” + avus “grandfather, ancestor”) + -ism

Example Sentences

Millet plays with the title and with the idea of atavism, in which an ancient trait asserts itself by skipping forward a few generations to suddenly appear in the gene pool.

From Los Angeles Times

A fervent believer in atavism, he was particularly drawn to the fine-tuned measurement of the skull as an indicator of the savage proclivities of man.

From Salon

That a word we now perceive as benign would have such macabre origins is a reminder that we don’t live terribly far removed from superstition and atavism, either historically or psychologically.

From New York Times

I don’t have to explain the problems with this demeaning atavism.

From Washington Post

I had been in Morocco scarcely a few days, and I felt already as if I had entered a sphere of deep atavisms and belonging.

From New York Times

Related Words

• backsliding
• relapse