Meanings
comparative more polymorphous · superlative most polymorphous
- Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
Idealism is an exceedingly complex system, varying much with varying authors, very polymorphous, and consequently very difficult to discuss.
1907, Alfred Binet, anonymous translator, The Mind and the Brain, Book III Chapter IISynonyms: multiform
- biologyHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
1 more example
1913, R. Chodat in Popular Science Monthly Volume 82 Janauay 1913, A Grain of Wheat In order to establish itself in any locality a plant must hold its own against competitors which, masters of the soil from time immemorial, have been selected to fit the soil and climate. Moreover, emmer is not cultivated anywhere in Palestine. This wild wheat is furthermore a different plant from any known in cultivation, a polymorphous race, no doubt, but a distinct one.
- chemistryCrystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveHaving, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiverelating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms
adjectiverelating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population
adjectivehaving or occurring in several distinct forms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekπολύμορφος“multiform, manifold”
- New Latinpolymorphus
- Englishpolymorphous
From New Latin polymorphus, from Ancient Greek πολύμορφος (polúmorphos, “multiform, manifold”), from πολυ- (polu-, “many, much”) + μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”). By surface analysis, poly- + -morphous.
More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bengali বহুরূপী
- বহুরূপী (bohurupi)Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
Finnish monipuolinen, monimuotoinen
- monipuolinenHaving, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
- monimuotoinenHaving, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
- polymorfinenHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
- monimuotoinenCrystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic
French polymorphe
- polymorpheHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
Irish ilchruthach, polamorfach
- ilchruthachCrystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic
- polamorfachCrystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic
Italian polimorfo
- polimorfoHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
Polish polimorficzny, polimorficzny
- polimorficznyHaving, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
- polimorficznyHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
- polimorficznyCrystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic
Portuguese polimorfo
- polimorfoHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
Spanish polimorfo
- polimorfoHaving, or occurring in, several distinct forms
Cite this entry
polymorphous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymorphous
“polymorphous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymorphous. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polymorphous,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polymorphous.
Source: polymorphous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.