What does maladapted mean?
Maladapted means poorly suited to a particular purpose, situation, or environment. It describes something whose features do not fit the conditions in which it exists or operates. For example, a policy may be maladapted to the needs of the people it is meant to serve, while a species may become maladapted when environmental change alters the conditions to which it has evolved. The word is formal and is especially common in biology and ecology, where it can describe organisms with traits that are no longer advantageous. It also has a broader metaphorical use for systems, institutions, practices, and behaviours that are ineffective because they do not fit their circumstances. The related noun maladaptation names the condition itself. Although the word is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, it is useful when emphasizing that a mismatch between adaptation and environment can produce significant consequences.
adjectiveIll-suited to a particular purpose, situation, or environment; poorly adapted. In biology, it refers to traits or organisms that function inadequately under their present conditions.
- Ill-suited to a particular purpose, situation, or environment.
- In biology, having traits that function inadequately under the organism's present environmental conditions.
"The species became maladapted to the altered climate."
"The policy was maladapted to the needs of rural communities."
"The maladapted species struggled as temperatures rose."
A maladapted trait may be useful in one environment and disastrous in another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maladapted come from?
Maladapted was formed in English by combining the prefix mal-, meaning “badly” or “incorrectly,” with adapted. Adapted comes from Latin adaptare, “to fit to,” formed from ad-, “to,” and aptare, “to fit.” The compound developed in English during the 20th century, especially in scientific and biological writing, and its related form maladaptation developed alongside it.
Related word forms
How maladapted is actually used
Maladapted is formal and relatively uncommon. It is especially used in biology, ecology, and the social sciences, and often suggests a mismatch between an organism, system, or practice and its circumstances.
Easily confused with maladapted
“Misadapted” means incorrectly adapted or adjusted, whereas “maladapted” means poorly suited to a purpose, condition, or environment.