pronucleus

P3R1O1N1U1C3L1E1U1S1

noun

Either of the two haploid nuclei (of a sperm and ovum) that fuse during fertilization

OriginEnglish nucleus ← Latin nucleu ← Proto-Italic *knuks →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounpronucleus (plural pronuclei)

plural pronuclei

  1. Either of the two haploid nuclei (of a sperm and ovum) that fuse during fertilization

Origin

  1. Englishpro-
  2. Proto-Italic*knuks
  3. Latinnux
  4. Latinnucleu
  5. Englishnucleus
  6. Englishpronucleus

From pro- + nucleus.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian pronucleo
  • pronucleoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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