pseudocopulation

noun

Any of various processes, amongst diverse animals, in which male gametes are passed from one individual to another without sexual union.

OriginEnglish copulation ← Middle English pseudo- ← Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudḗs) →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounpseudocopulation (countable and uncountable, plural pseudocopulations)

plural pseudocopulations

  1. countableuncountablebiologyAny of various processes, amongst diverse animals, in which male gametes are passed from one individual to another without sexual union.
  2. countableuncountablebiologyThe process by which an insect (such as a bee) attempts to mate with a flower (such as an orchid) that mimics a female insect, and in doing so pollinates the plant.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekψεύδω (pseúdō)
  2. Ancient Greekψευδής (pseudḗs)
  3. Middle Englishpseudo-
  4. Englishpseudo-
  5. Englishcopulation
  6. Englishpseudocopulation

From pseudo- + copulation.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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