gigantism

American  

[jahy-gan-tiz-uhm, ji-, jahy-gan-tiz-uhm] / dʒaɪˈgæn tɪz əm, dʒɪ-, ˈdʒaɪ gænˌtɪz əm /

noun

1. Pathology. abnormally great development in size or stature of the whole body or of parts of the body, most often due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland.

2. Biology. the nonpathological development of an animal or plant to an unusually large size.

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gigantism British  

/ ˈdʒaɪɡænˌtɪzəm, dʒaɪˈɡæntɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: giantism.  excessive growth of the entire body, caused by over-production of growth hormone by the pituitary gland during childhood or adolescence Compare acromegaly

2. the state or quality of being gigantic

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Etymology

Origin of gigantism

First recorded in 1880–85; from Latin gigant-, stem of gigās; see origin at giant, -ism

Compare meaning

How does gigantism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

These animals are a famous example of "polar gigantism," a phenomenon where certain organisms in polar regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, grow to much larger sizes than their relatives in warmer climates.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2024

The ability to continue growing throughout the year may have been a key innovation, sustained by great migrations, that facilitated the emergence of gigantism in early sauropods.

From Scientific American • Aug. 15, 2023

Whether studying the genetics of a whale’s magnitude ever helps to fight disease, the mystery of their gigantism is certainly a topic of public interest.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2023

It shows that gigantism in marine turtles developed independently in separate Cretaceous lineages in North America and Europe.

From Reuters • Nov. 17, 2022

I walk to Mom and Dad’s bedroom with the evidence of my gigantism still on my back.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• bigness
• enormity
• vastness