Meanings
nounneotene (plural neotenes)
plural neotenes
- biologyA reproductively mature animal in a juvenile form.
Origin
Back-formation from neoteny.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
neotene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neotene
MLA
“neotene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neotene. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “neotene,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neotene.
Source: neotene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.