What does agamic mean?
Agamic is a scientific adjective describing reproduction that takes place without the union of gametes — that is, without fertilization. An agamic organism produces offspring asexually, whether by cloning, vegetative propagation, or the development of unfertilized eggs, as seen in certain aphids, dandelions, and other plants and animals. The word derives from Greek roots: the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'gamos' meaning 'marriage,' so it literally suggests reproduction 'without marriage.' In its rarer, older sense, agamic can describe something occurring without marriage or sexual union, but today it appears almost exclusively in biological contexts. It is a formal, technical term, common in botany and zoology literature but rare elsewhere, and it contrasts with sexual or amphimictic reproduction, in which genetic material from two parents combines. Knowing the word is useful for anyone reading about evolutionary biology, since agamic lineages raise fascinating questions about why so many organisms nonetheless reproduce sexually.
adjectiveRelating to or characterized by asexual reproduction, in which offspring are produced without the fusion of gametes. In a broader, rarer sense, it can mean occurring without marriage or sexual union.
- Relating to asexual reproduction, especially the production of offspring without fertilization by gametes.
- Rarely, occurring without marriage or sexual union.
"Certain aphid species are agamic for much of the year, producing live young without any mating."
"The botanist noted that the dandelion population was almost entirely agamic, each plant cloning itself through unfertilized seeds."
"In agamic lineages of rotifers, genetic diversity is maintained by mutation rather than recombination."
Some aphids skip romance entirely — for generations at a time, every single one of them is a self-sufficient, agamic mother.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of agamic
Agamic comes from the Greek prefix 'a-' (without) combined with 'gamos' (marriage), passing through scientific Latin before entering English in the nineteenth century alongside the rise of modern biology. It shares its root with everyday words such as 'gamete,' 'monogamy,' and 'polygamy.' The related noun 'agamogenesis' was coined in the same scientific tradition to name the phenomenon of asexual reproduction itself.
Related word forms
How agamic is actually used
Agamic is a technical term used chiefly in biology, botany, and zoology; it is rare in everyday conversation. It carries no emotional connotation and is neutral in register, though it reads as formal or scientific.
Easily confused with agamic
Both derive from Greek 'gamos' (marriage) and overlap in meaning, but 'agamous' more often describes flowers lacking stamens and pistils, while 'agamic' typically describes asexual reproduction in organisms.
An 'agamid' is a lizard of the family Agamidae (such as bearded dragons), whereas 'agamic' describes asexual reproduction.