agnathic

A1G2N1A1T1H4I1C3
US/æɡˈnæθɪk/

adjective

Jawless.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

adjectiveagnathic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableJawless.

    […] the heads are inverted and agnathic (lacking a lower jaw) […]

    1980, Thomas Pozorski, “The Early Horizon Site of Huaca de los Reyes: Societal Implications”, in American Antiquity, volume 45, page 104
    2 more examples

    Mouth is without jaws (agnathic) in lampreys and hagfishes and bounded by jaws (gnathic) in all other vertebrates.

    2004, V. B. Rastogi, Modern Biology, seventh edition, Pitambar, →ISBN, page II-61

    Mortal combat and decapitation are suggested by the eight skillfully and gracefully engraved heads depicted here with their serrated necks, the prominent arrowheads, and the agnathic or jawless head regalia.

    2004, David H. Dye, “Art, Ritual, and Chiefly Warfare in the Mississippian World”, in Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand, Art Institute of Chicago, →ISBN, page 201
  2. not comparablemedicineAfflicted by or characteristic of agnathia.

    […]an imperforate pharynx which existed in an agnathic lamb.

    1902, Bertram C. A. Windle, “Twelfth Report on Recent Teratological Literature”, in Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, volume 36, page 303
    2 more examples

    In the mouth: various irregularities, such as wide separation of the teeth; abnormal development of the canines; the prognathic or agnathic jaw; high arching of the palate; cleft palate—all are found more frequently among persons otherwise degenerate than in normal individuals.

    1913, John H. Musser, A Practical Treatise on Medical Diagnosis for Students and Physicians, 6th edition, Lea & Febiger, page 87

    Most pregnancies with agnathic fetuses are associated with polyhydramnios, which probably result from fetal inability to swallow because of persistence of the oropharyngeal membrane.

    2006, Karen Gripp, Luis Fernando Escobar, “Facial Bones”, in Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 287

    Synonyms: agnathous

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveAfflicted by or characteristic of agnathia.

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Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀ-“without”
  2. Englishagnathic

From Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-, “without”) + γνάθος (gnáthos, “jaw”) + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

agnathic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic

MLA

“agnathic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agnathic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agnathic.

Source: agnathic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.