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

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Etymology

Origin of sexual dimorphism

First recorded in 1885–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sexual dimorphism

Scientists describe this type of physical difference between males and females as sexual dimorphism.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

There are believed to be two ways in which sex chromosomes can cause sex-specific differences, also called sexual dimorphism, in cells.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2025

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

Otherwise, there is little sexual dimorphism in these snakes.

From A Revision of Snakes of the Genus Conophis (Family Colubridae, from Middle America) by John Wellman

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