syndactyly

S1Y4N1D2A1C3T1Y4L1Y4
/ˌsɪnˈdæk.tə.li/

noun

The normal condition, in some animals and birds, of having fused digits.

RareScrabble 22

Meanings

nounsyndactyly (countable and uncountable, plural syndactylies)

plural syndactylies

  1. countableuncountablebiologyThe normal condition, in some animals and birds, of having fused digits.
  2. countableuncountablemedicineThe anomalous condition, in humans, of having some fingers or toes fused with a web.

    Complex syndactylies are more often part of a syndrome such as Apert, Carpenter, or Saethre-Chotzen syndrome.

    2021, Angelo B. Lipira, Joel S. Solomon, Jourdan A. Carboy, Juliana E. Hansen, “40: Congenital Hand Differences”, in Seth R. Thaller, Zubin J. Panthaki, editors, Tips and Tricks in Plastic Surgery, Springer, page 683
    3 more examples

    Pranamya Menaria (India; born August 10, 2005) has 25 in total (12 fingers and 13 toes). This is as a result of the condition Polydactyly and Syndactyly.

    2008, Guinness World Records — Human Body — Extreme Bodies — Most Fingers and Toes — Living Person

    2012, Donald S. Bae, Chapter 47: Release of Simple Syndactyly, John M. Flynn, Sam W. Wiesel (editors), Operative Techniques in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Wolters Kluwer (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins), page 326, • Syndactyly refers to the failure of separation between adjacent digits, resulting in "webbed" fingers. • Congenital syndactyly is classified according to the extent of digital involvement and the character of the conjoined tissue. • Complete syndactyly extends to the digital tips (FIG 1A), whereas incomplete syndactyly ends proximal to the fingertips (FIG 1B). • Simple syndactyly refers to digits connected only by skin and soft tissue. Complex syndactyly denotes bony fusions between adjacent phalanges. • Complicated syndactyly refers to the interposition of accessory phalanges or abnormal bones between digits.

    Fig. 2.2f.1 Complete syndactyly. Schematic (A) shows syndactyly of hand excluding the thumb. The thumb may be included in the syndactyly, as evident in the left hand of the patient with Apert syndrome (B). The great toe is usually included in syndactyly of the foot.

    2016, David B. Everman, “2: Hands and Feet”, in Roger E. Stevenson, Judith G. Hall, David B. Everman, Benjamin D. Solomon, editors, Human Malformations and Related Anomalies, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, page 137

Synonyms & antonyms

nounbirth defect in which there is partial or total webbing connecting two or more fingers or toes

Broader
birth defectcongenital anomalycongenital defect

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδάκτυλος“finger”
  2. Englishsyndactyly

From syn- + Ancient Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger”) + -y.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech daktylosymfýza, syndaktylie
  • daktylosymfýzahaving fused digits
  • syndaktyliehaving fused digits
Finnish syndaktylia, syndaktylia
  • syndaktyliahaving fused digits
  • syndaktyliahuman condition
Icelandic samtáun, samfingrun
  • samtáunhuman condition
  • samfingrunhuman condition
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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