pluripotent

P3L1U1R1I1P3O1T1E1N1T1
UK/plʊəˈɹɪpətənt/

adjective

Having much or unlimited potential to develop in a certain way, especially in a desirable fashion.

Similar
multipotentpluripotential
OriginEnglish potent ← Latin pluri- →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

adjectivepluripotent (not comparable)
  1. not comparableHaving much or unlimited potential to develop in a certain way, especially in a desirable fashion.

    Synonyms: multipotent

  2. not comparablebiologyAble to develop into more than one mature cell or tissue type, but not all.

    As the embryo grows, ‘pluripotent’ stem cells appear, which are limited in their potency.

    2011, Terence Allen, Graham Cowling, The Cell: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, page 99
    1 more example

    After injecting the virus into the eye, the pluripotent genes were then switched on by feeding the mouse an antibiotic.

    2022 June 2, Sandee LaMotte, “The ‘Benjamin Button’ effect: Scientists can reverse aging in mice. The goal is to do the same for humans”, in CNN

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveHaving much or unlimited potential to develop in a certain way, especially in a desirable fashion.

Similar
multipotent
Similar
pluripotential
Also see
multipotent

Origin

  1. Latinplūs
  2. Latinplūris
  3. Latinpluri-
  4. Englishpluri-
  5. Englishpotent
  6. Englishpluripotent

From pluri- + potent.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French pluripotent
  • pluripotentable to develop into most cell types
Greek πλειοδύναμος
  • πλειοδύναμος (pleiodýnamos)able to develop into most cell types
Italian pluripotente
  • pluripotenteable to develop into most cell types
Japanese 多能性の
  • 多能性の (tanōsei no)able to develop into most cell types
Persian پرتوان
  • پرتوان (por-tavân)able to develop into most cell types
Spanish pluripotente
  • pluripotenteable to develop into most cell types
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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