What does atavism mean?
noun
The reappearance of a trait or characteristic in an individual or group that was previously absent or extinct, often due to genetic or evolutionary factors. This can occur in humans or other organisms, and is often seen as a throwback to an earlier time or a remnant of a previous evolutionary stage.
Example
"The geneticist studied the atavism of the human population, tracing the reappearance of a trait that had been absent for thousands of years."
Definition generated by AI and curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.