Meanings
nounmagnetotaxis (uncountable)
- uncountablebiologyThe supposed ability to sense a magnetic field and coordinate movement in response, later discovered to be natural magnetism: such creatures orient themselves magnetically even after death
Origin
From magneto- + taxis; coined in 1975 by R. P. Blakemore to describe certain motile aquatic bacteria.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French magnétotactisme, magnétotaxie
- magnétotactismethe supposed ability to sense a magnetic field and coordinate movement in response
- magnétotaxiethe supposed ability to sense a magnetic field and coordinate movement in response
Italian magnetotattismo
- magnetotattismothe supposed ability to sense a magnetic field and coordinate movement in response
Cite this entry
APA
magnetotaxis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetotaxis
MLA
“magnetotaxis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetotaxis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magnetotaxis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetotaxis.
Source: magnetotaxis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.