ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

proverb

The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. artThe physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.

    With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.

    1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186
    2 more examples

    Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.

    1961, M. E. Wolfgang, “Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)”, in The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, volume 52, number 4, page 367

    For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.

    2002, B. S. Jackson, “Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law”, in Journal of Law and Religion, volume 18, number 1, page 11

Origin

Reportedly coined by zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919).

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Cite this entry
APA

ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ontogeny%20recapitulates%20phylogeny

MLA

“ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ontogeny%20recapitulates%20phylogeny. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ontogeny%20recapitulates%20phylogeny.

Source: ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.