stigmergy

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noun

A mechanism of spontaneous, indirect coordination between agents or actions, where the trace left in the environment by an action stimulates the performance of a subsequent action.

OriginAncient Greek στίγμα →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounstigmergy (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyA mechanism of spontaneous, indirect coordination between agents or actions, where the trace left in the environment by an action stimulates the performance of a subsequent action.
  2. uncountablemathematicsA mechanism of indirect coordination between agents or actions, in which the aftereffects of one action guide a subsequent action.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekστίγμα“mark”, “sign”
  2. Englishstigmergy

Coined in 1959 by French biologist Pierre-Paul Grassé in reference to termite behaviour, from the Ancient Greek στίγμα (stígma, “mark”, “sign”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”, “action”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

stigmergy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stigmergy

MLA

“stigmergy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stigmergy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stigmergy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stigmergy.

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