paedomorphic

P3A1E1D2O1M3O1R1P3H4I1C3
UK/piːdə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfɪk/US/ˌpidəˈmɔɹfɪk/US/ˌpɛdəˈmɔɹfɪk/

adjective

Of, relating to, or resulting from the retention of juvenile characteristics by an adult.

Similar
neotenic
First used 19th c.Scrabble 24
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Meanings

adjectivepaedomorphic (comparative more paedomorphic, superlative most paedomorphic)

comparative more paedomorphic · superlative most paedomorphic · alternative UK US dated pædomorphic · alternative pedomorphic

  1. Of, relating to, or resulting from the retention of juvenile characteristics by an adult.First known use 19th c.

    Based on pedomorphic changes in the fossils of Paleolithic humans, Wrangham has suggested that a similar process has been taking place in human evolution during the past thirty to fifty thousand years, and may still be taking place.

    2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 744

    Synonyms: neotenic

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf, relating to, or resulting from the retention of juvenile characteristics by an adult.

Similar
neotenic

Origin

From paedo- + -morphic.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with paedomorphic

anamorphicpolymorphicisomorphicmetamorphicanthropomorphicdimorphicdysmorphicmonomorphicallomorphicamorphicdelomorphicidiomorphiclagomorphicmesomorphicparamorphicperimorphictheriomorphictrimorphictropomorphicxeromorphiczoomorphic
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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