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

Etymology

Origin of sexual dimorphism

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sexual dimorphism

"To me, the differences in sexual dimorphism among populations of beluga whales could indicate that mating systems also vary, and this is something we are currently working on," said O'Corry-Crowe.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2026

Differences in cancer incidence and progression between men and women have been known for decades, but a detailed understanding of sexual dimorphism in relation to cancer biology is still limited.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024

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

Dimorphism, the appearance of the same species in two different forms, sexual dimorphism, 122, 124.

From The Biological Problem of To-day Preformation Or Epigenesis? The Basis of a Theory of Organic Development by Hertwig, Oscar