homothallic

adjective

ho·​mo·​thal·​lic ˌhō-mō-ˈtha-lik How to pronounce homothallic (audio)
1
: having a haploid phase that produces two kinds of gametes capable of fusing to form a zygote
—used especially of algae and fungi
2
: monoecious
homothallism
ˌhō-mō-ˈtha-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce homothallic (audio)
noun

Word History

Etymology

hom- + Greek thallein to sprout, grow — more at thallus

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of homothallic was in 1904

Rhymes for homothallic

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Browse Nearby Words

homotaxy
homothallic
homothetic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Homothallic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homothallic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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Medical Definition

homothallic

adjective
ho·​mo·​thal·​lic ˌhō-mō-ˈthal-ik How to pronounce homothallic (audio)
: having only one haploid phase that produces two kinds of gametes capable of fusing to form a zygote
homothallism
-ˈthal-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce homothallic (audio)
noun
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