oviparous
1 synonym and 1 antonym for oviparous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Describes an animal that reproduces by laying eggs which develop and hatch outside the body.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
egg-laying
Antonyms
viviparous
How to use oviparous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
oviparous animals
oviparous species
oviparous reptiles
an oviparous mammal
It is a scientific term used mainly in biology and zoology.
Etymology
An adapted borrowing of the Late Latin word oviparus with the suffix -ous added. Taken apart, it is built from ovi-, relating to eggs, and -parous, relating to bearing or producing.
Full origin of oviparous →Frequently asked questions
What does oviparous mean?
It describes an animal that reproduces by laying eggs, which then develop and hatch outside the body.
What is an example of an oviparous animal?
Birds are oviparous, and the echidna is an unusual oviparous mammal.
What is the opposite of oviparous?
The opposite is viviparous, which describes animals that give birth to live young.
