ZW system

proper noun

A system for characterizing the sex of certain animals, such as butterflies and Komodo dragons, in which males have two of the same kind of sex cell (ZZ) and females have two distinct sex cells (ZW).

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proper noun

alternative ZZ-ZW system

  1. biologyA system for characterizing the sex of certain animals, such as butterflies and Komodo dragons, in which males have two of the same kind of sex cell (ZZ) and females have two distinct sex cells (ZW).
Cite this entry
APA

ZW system. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ZW%20system

MLA

“ZW system.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ZW%20system. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ZW system,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ZW%20system.

Source: ZW system on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.