automimicry

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noun

The advantage gained by some members of a species from their resemblance to others of the same species. Males of many bees and wasps, although defenseless, are protected from predators by their resemblance to females that are equipped with stingers.

OriginEnglish mimicry ← Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nounautomimicry (plural automimicries)

plural automimicries

  1. biologyThe advantage gained by some members of a species from their resemblance to others of the same species. Males of many bees and wasps, although defenseless, are protected from predators by their resemblance to females that are equipped with stingers.

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*autós
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
  3. Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
  4. Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
  5. Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
  6. Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
  7. Englishauto-
  8. Englishmimicry
  9. Englishautomimicry

From auto- + mimicry.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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