sexual dimorphism

American  

noun

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

---

sexual dimorphism British  

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

• sexually dimorphic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sexual dimorphism

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

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

Unbeknownst to our K. cushmani, this gender difference in body shape — known as sexual dimorphism — marked him and his kind for failure.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2018

Ontogenetic change and sexual dimorphism in shape, color, and markings of head and neck.

From Natural History of the Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz by Legler, John M.