polytypism

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noun

The existence of multiple types, especially of multiple subspecies.

OriginEnglish type ← Ancient Greek πολῠ́ς (polŭ́s) ← Proto-Indo-European *polh₁ús →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounpolytypism (countable and uncountable, plural polytypisms)

plural polytypisms

  1. countableuncountableThe existence of multiple types, especially of multiple subspecies.
  2. countableuncountableThe existence of multiple forms differing in only one of the dimensions of the unit cell.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
  3. Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
  4. Englishpoly-
  5. Englishtype
  6. Englishpolytypism

From poly- + type + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

polytypism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytypism

MLA

“polytypism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytypism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polytypism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polytypism.

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