monotypic

[ mon-uh-tip-ik ]

adjective

having only one type.
of the nature of a monotype.

Biology. having only one representative, as a genus with a single species.

Origin of monotypic

1875–80; mono- + type + -ic

Words Nearby monotypic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use monotypic in a sentence

Other references to the monotypic genus have consisted only of a listing of the name or of its inclusion in a key.
Systematic Status of a South American Frog, Allophryne ruthveni Gaige | John D. Lynch
We follow Chang (1932:54) and most subsequent authors in regarding D. rufozonatum as a monotypic species.
Some Reptiles and Amphibians from Korea | Robert G Webb
The synonymy of each monotypic species or subspecies begins with the name as given in the original description.
North American Recent Soft-shelled Turtles (Family Trionychidae) | Robert G. Webb
It is evident, then, as Romanes claims, that natural selection alone tends to monotypic evolution.
Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol 3 of 3) | George John Romanes
First, the distinction between monotypic and polytypic evolution is not defined.
Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol 3 of 3) | George John Romanes

British Dictionary definitions for monotypic

monotypic

/ (ˌmɒnəʊˈtɪpɪk) /

adjective

(of a genus or species) consisting of only one type of animal or plant
of or relating to a monotype

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for monotypic

monotypic

[ mŏn′ə-tĭp′ĭk ]

Having a single form or member, especially containing no more than one taxonomic category of the next lower rank. A monotypic genus contains a single species, while a monotypic species consists of a single population that is not divided into subspecies. Compare polytypic.

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