vicariance
[ vahy-kair-ee-uhns, vi- ]
/ vaɪˈkɛər i əns, vɪ- /
Save This Word!
noun Biology.
the geographical separation and isolation of a subpopulation, resulting in the original population's differentiation as a new variety or species.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE MANY TYPES OF NOUNS
They're everywhere you turn, but can you identify the 10 types of nouns easily? This quiz will test your mettle against singular, plural, concrete, abstract, common, proper, collective, compound, countable, and uncountable nouns!
Question 1 of 7
Shoelaces, rainbow, toothpaste, and haircuts are all what type of noun?
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Also called vicariance biogeography.
Origin of vicariance
First recorded in 1955–60; from Latin vicāri(us) “substituting” + -ance
OTHER WORDS FROM vicariance
vi·car·i·ant, adjective, nounWords nearby vicariance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Scientific definitions for vicariance
vicariance
[ vī-kâr′ē-əns, vĭ- ]
The separation or division of a group of organisms by a geographic barrier, such as a mountain or a body of water, resulting in differentiation of the original group into new varieties or species. See also speciation.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.