What does heterogamy mean?
Heterogamy is a formal term with two established uses. In biology, it describes sexual reproduction in which the gametes are not alike: typically, a larger, less-mobile egg is fertilized by a smaller, more-mobile sperm. This condition contrasts with isogamy, in which the reproductive cells are essentially similar. In the social sciences, heterogamy refers to marriage or partnership outside a person’s own social, religious, ethnic, or other group, as opposed to homogamy, or marriage within such a group. The biological sense is especially important in evolutionary discussions because differences in gamete size and motility led to anisogamy, a major transition in sexual reproduction. The social sense is chiefly encountered in older sociological and anthropological literature and in the formal study of marriage patterns. In current prose, heterogamy is most often recognized as a specialized biological term, while the social sense may require context to avoid confusion with ordinary intergroup relationships.
nounIn biology, heterogamy is sexual reproduction involving gametes that differ in characteristics, especially size and motility. In the social sciences, it means marriage or partnership between people from different social, ethnic, religious, or other groups.
- Sexual reproduction in which the gametes differ in characteristics such as size and motility.
- Marriage or partnership between people belonging to different social, ethnic, religious, or other groups.
"The evolution of heterogamy produced distinct male and female reproductive cells with complementary roles."
"Many sexually reproducing organisms exhibit heterogamy, with one gamete substantially larger than the other."
"The study compared patterns of heterogamy and homogamy across rural and urban communities."
The plural is rare; heterogamy is usually used as an uncountable noun or in the fixed phrase “types of heterogamy.”
"The article compares different types of heterogamies found across the animal kingdom."
Heterogamy names a major evolutionary shift: the move from nearly identical reproductive cells to specialized eggs and sperm.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heterogamy come from?
The word derives from the Greek heteros, meaning “different,” and gamos, meaning “marriage” or “union.” It entered English as a Latinized scientific term in the nineteenth century, initially for a form of sexual reproduction involving unlike gametes. Its social meaning developed from the broader concept of union or marriage between unlike groups.
Related word forms
How heterogamy is actually used
The word is technical and formal. Its biological sense is now more prominent in general reference works, while the social sense is chiefly associated with sociological and anthropological discussion of marriage patterns.
Easily confused with heterogamy
Isogamy is sexual reproduction involving gametes of essentially the same size and form, whereas heterogamy involves unlike gametes.
Homogamy refers to marriage within a social group, while heterogamy in the social sense refers to marriage between different groups.