sympatric

S1Y4M3P3A1T1R1I1C3
UK/sɪmˈpætɹɪk/

adjective

Occurring in the same, or in overlapping, territory, especially of species that do not interbreed.

Similar
compatric
Opposite
allopatric
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectivesympatric (comparative more sympatric, superlative most sympatric)

comparative more sympatric · superlative most sympatric

  1. biologyOccurring in the same, or in overlapping, territory, especially of species that do not interbreed.

    There is some evidence of sympatric speciation of cichlid fish in small African crater lakes.

    2004, Richard Dawkins, The Ancestor's Tale, Phoenix, published 2005, page 349

    Synonyms: compatric

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOccurring in the same, or in overlapping, territory, especially of species that do not interbreed.

Similar
compatric

More synonyms by meaning

adjective(of biological species or speciation) occurring in the same or overlapping geographical areas

Opposite
allopatric
Also see
compatric

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From sympatry + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan simpàtric
  • simpàtricoccurring in the same territory
Dutch sympatrische
  • sympatrischeoccurring in the same territory
Finnish sympatrinen
  • sympatrinenoccurring in the same territory
French sympatrique, sympatride
  • sympatriqueoccurring in the same territory
  • sympatrideoccurring in the same territory
German sympatrische
  • sympatrischeoccurring in the same territory
Hungarian élőhelyi elkülönülés, ökológiai elkülönülés
  • élőhelyi elkülönülésoccurring in the same territory
  • ökológiai elkülönülésoccurring in the same territory
  • ökológiai fajképződésoccurring in the same territory
Italian simpatrico
  • simpatricooccurring in the same territory
Māori nohotata, nohotahi
  • nohotataoccurring in the same territory
  • nohotahioccurring in the same territory
Portuguese simpátrico
  • simpátricooccurring in the same territory
Spanish simpátrico
  • simpátricooccurring in the same territory
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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