anisogamy

an·i·so·ga·my
A1N1I1S1O1G2A1M3Y4
/ænaɪ̯ˈsɒɡəmi/

noun

Sexual bonding or marriage involving partners of widely differing social status.

Similar
heterogamy
OriginAncient Greek γᾰ́μος (gắmos) ← Proto-Indo-European *ǵem- ← English aniso- →
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Meanings

nounanisogamy (uncountable)
  1. uncountableanthropologySexual bonding or marriage involving partners of widely differing social status.
  2. uncountablebiologySexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
heterogamy
Also see
heterogamy

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ə-
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓- (ă-)
  5. Ancient Greekῐ̓́σος (ĭ́sos)
  6. Ancient Greekἄνισος (ánisos)
  7. Englishaniso-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ǵem-
  9. Ancient Greekγᾰ́μος (gắmos)
  10. Englishanisogamy

From aniso- + -gamy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian анизога́мия
  • анизога́мия (anizogámija)sexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Catalan heterogàmia, anisogàmia
  • heterogàmiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
  • anisogàmiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Finnish anisogamia
  • anisogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
German Anisogamie, Anisogamie
  • Anisogamiesexual bonding or marriage involving partners of widely differing status
  • Anisogamiesexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Irish ainiseagamacht
  • ainiseagamachtsexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Italian anisogamia
  • anisogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Polish anizogamia, heterogamia
  • anizogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
  • heterogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Portuguese anisogamia, heterogamia
  • anisogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
  • heterogamiasexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Russian анизога́мия
  • анизога́мия (anizogámija)sexual reproduction involving the union or fusion of two dissimilar gametes
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“anisogamy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anisogamy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anisogamy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anisogamy.

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