Word of the Day ·

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recessive

/ɹɪˈsɛsɪv/

adjective

What it means

  1. Going back; receding.
  2. biologyAble to be masked by a dominant allele or trait.

    This plan takes advantage of the fact that barless is the most recessive of a series of alleles.

    1988, American Pigeon Journal, volume 76, page 36
    2 more examples

    1944 June 21, James A. G. Rehn, South African Bird-Locust Records and Notes (Orthoptera; Acrididae; Cyrtacanthacridinae; Group Cyrtacanthacres), Notulae Naturae, Number 137, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, page 3, The Lydenburg male and the other two females have the infuscate pattern definitely more recessive and less evident, although traceable.

    The series of murine Agouti alleles is a consistent array as it progresses from the most recessive to the most dominant allele (Jackson, 1994).

    2001, D. P. Sponenberg, M. F. Rothschild, 6: Genetics of Coat Colour and Hair Texture, page 65
  3. broadlyNot dominant; whose effect is masked by stronger effects.

    The worker–client relationship is more recessive and has a more catalytic and enabling quality.

    1979, Ken Heap, Process and Action in Work with Groups: The Preconditions for Treatment and Growth, page ix
    1 more example

    The law-making or legislative component was the most recessive component of the legal system of hunter-gatherers, although decisions or advice given by mediators were remembered and used again to settle similar violations of rules or disputes among parties.

    2004, Jonathan H. Turner, Human Institutions: A Theory of Societal Evolution, page 112

In a sentence

1944 June 21, James A. G. Rehn, South African Bird-Locust Records and Notes (Orthoptera; Acrididae; Cyrtacanthacridinae; Group Cyrtacanthacres), Notulae Naturae, Number 137, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, page 3, The Lydenburg male and the other two females have the infuscate pattern definitely more recessive and less evident, although traceable.

Where it comes from

  1. New Latinrecessīvus
  2. Latinrecēdō
  3. Englishrecessive

From Latin recēdō + -ive, or directly from New Latin recessīvus.

Full entry for recessive →

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