What does dimorph mean?
A dimorph is one of the two distinct forms assumed by an organism or species. The best-known example is sexual dimorphism, in which males and females differ substantially in size, coloration, structure, or other characteristics. The related noun dimorphism denotes the phenomenon itself, while dimorphic describes an organism or feature that displays it. The word dimorph is used more narrowly than dimorphism because it identifies a particular form rather than the condition of having two forms. In mineralogy, related terminology can distinguish substances occurring in two different crystal forms. Dimorph is principally scientific and relatively uncommon in ordinary English, so writers usually choose dimorphism when discussing the broader phenomenon. Even so, it is a precise and useful word for a member of a species whose form contrasts sharply with another form of the same species.
nounOne of two distinct alternative forms of an organism or species, such as its male and female forms. In mineralogy, the term can also refer to a substance occurring in two different crystal forms.
- One of two distinct biological forms within a species, especially forms such as males and females that differ conspicuously in appearance or structure.
- A form or form of a mineral or other substance distinguished by its structure or crystal habit.
"The male and female are dimorphs of the same species, distinguished by their markedly different coloration."
"The male is a dimorph of the species, with brighter plumage and a differently shaped bill."
"Researchers identified the specimen as a dimorph of the mineral distinguished by its crystal structure."
The regular plural is dimorphs, though the word occurs infrequently in general writing.
"The museum displays dimorphs from several species of beetle."
Meet the dimorph: the uncommon label for one of nature’s two dramatically different forms.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does dimorph come from?
Dimorph is a 19th-century English scientific formation in the tradition of words describing biological form. It combines the combining form di-, meaning “two,” with the Greek noun morphē, meaning “form.” Its scientific relatives include dimorphism, dimorphic, monomorph, and polymorph, all of which draw on the same Greek root.
Related word forms
How dimorph is actually used
Dimorph is relatively uncommon technical vocabulary. In general scientific writing, dimorphism more often denotes the phenomenon of having two forms, while dimorphic is the standard adjective for an organism or feature that exhibits those forms.
Easily confused with dimorph
Dimorph names an individual form, whereas dimorphism names the phenomenon of occurring in two distinct forms.
Dimorph is a noun, while dimorphic is normally an adjective describing something that has two distinct forms.