oophagy

O1O1P3H4A1G2Y4
UK/əʊˈɒfədʒi/

noun

The eating of eggs; (now especially) the cannibalization of subordinate eggs within a homogeneous population or the uterus; particularly as it relates to certain insect and aquatic species.

Similar
adelphophagyembryophagy
OriginGerman Oophagie →
First used 19th c.Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounoophagy (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe eating of eggs; (now especially) the cannibalization of subordinate eggs within a homogeneous population or the uterus; particularly as it relates to certain insect and aquatic species.First known use 19th c.

    A number of shark species go in for oophagy, or uterine cannibalism.

    2015, Theo Tait, ‘Don't wear yum-yum yellow’, London Review of Books, volume 34, number 15

    Synonyms: adelphophagy, embryophagy

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe eating of eggs; (now especially) the cannibalization of subordinate eggs within a homogeneous population or the uterus; particularly as it relates to certain insect and aquatic species.

Similar
adelphophagyembryophagy
Also see
adelphophagyembryophagy

Origin

  1. GermanOophagie
  2. Englishoophagy

From oo- + -phagy, originally after German Oophagie.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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