heterophile

H4E1T1E1R1O1P3H4I1L1E1

adjective

Able to react immunologically with material from another species.

Opposite
homophilehomophil
OriginEnglish hetero- ← Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros) ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectiveheterophile (not comparable)

alternative heterophil

  1. not comparableAble to react immunologically with material from another species.

    Antonyms: homophile, homophil

  2. datednot comparableHeterosexual.
nounheterophile (plural heterophiles)

plural heterophiles · alternative heterophil

  1. immunologyA heterophilic antibody.

    Antonyms: homophile, homophil

  2. datedA heterosexual person.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveAble to react immunologically with material from another species.

Opposite
homophilehomophil

nounA heterophilic antibody.

Opposite
homophilehomophil

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Englishheterophile

From hetero- + -phile.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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