hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite (noun) means an organism, such as certain plants or animals, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. Example: “Many species of earthworm are hermaphrodites.”
How to use hermaphrodite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving both male and female reproductive features; used mainly in biology to describe plants and animals.
When referring to humans with variations in sex characteristics, "intersex" is the modern, preferred term; "hermaphrodite" is now mostly reserved for biology (plants, invertebrates).
Word forms
hermaphrodites plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many species of earthworm are _____.
Etymology
From Hermaphroditus, the mythical child of Hermes and Aphrodite who merged bodies with a water nymph and gained both male and female characteristics.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hermaphrodite
See all rhymes for hermaphrodite →Frequently asked questions
What does “hermaphrodite” mean?
The word “hermaphrodite” means an organism, such as certain plants or animals, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. In plain terms, having both male and female reproductive features; used mainly in biology to describe plants and animals.
How do you pronounce “hermaphrodite”?
“Hermaphrodite” is pronounced h-MAF-ruh-dyt (/hɝˈmæfɹədaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hermaphrodite” in a sentence?
Here is “hermaphrodite” used in a sentence: “Many species of earthworm are hermaphrodites.”
What is another word for “hermaphrodite”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hermaphrodite” include maphrodite, morphodite, mophrodite, androgyne, gynandromorph and dichogamous.
What part of speech is “hermaphrodite”?
Depending on how it is used, “hermaphrodite” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “hermaphrodite” have?
“Hermaphrodite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an organism, such as certain plants or animals, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.