Meanings
plural caenogeneses · alternative cænogenesis · alternative cainogenesis · alternative cenogenesis · alternative coenogenesis · alternative kainogenesis · alternative kenogenesis
- countableuncountablebiologyThe embryotic development of structures or characteristics not present in the species before.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounintroduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (such as the addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From Ancient Greek καινός (kainós, “new”) + English -genesis. First attested in 1909.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French cénogenèse
- cénogenèsethe embryotic development of structures or characteristics not present in the species before
Polish cenogeneza
- cenogenezathe embryotic development of structures or characteristics not present in the species before
Romanian cenogeneză
- cenogenezăthe embryotic development of structures or characteristics not present in the species before
Cite this entry
caenogenesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caenogenesis
“caenogenesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caenogenesis. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “caenogenesis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/caenogenesis.
Source: caenogenesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.