teleonomy

T1E1L1E1O1N1O1M3Y4
/ˌtɛliˈɒnəmi/

noun

The quality of living organisms of seeming to be organized towards the attainment of an end.

Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounteleonomy (usually uncountable, plural teleonomies)

plural teleonomies

  1. uncountableusuallyevolutionary theoryThe quality of living organisms of seeming to be organized towards the attainment of an end.

Origin

From teleo- + -nomy. Coined by biologist Colin Pittendrigh in 1958, who wanted to limit the much older term "teleology" to actions planned by an agent who can internally model alternative futures with intention, purpose and foresight.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 目的性
  • 目的性 (mùdìxìng)quality of living organisms
Finnish teleonomia
  • teleonomiaquality of living organisms
Polish teleonomia
  • teleonomiaquality of living organisms

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with teleonomy

economyastronomytaxonomyautonomyDeuteronomyagronomygastronomyaeronomymetonymytaphonomybionomytheonomyanthroponomyarchaeastronomychemotaxonomycontronymycytotaxonomydactylonomydiseconomygeonomyheteronomyineconomynonautonomysemiautonomy
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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