What does macrocephalic mean?
Macrocephalic is a technical adjective meaning that a person or animal has an abnormally large head or skull, particularly in proportion to the rest of the body. The word is used in medicine, biological anthropology, and comparative anatomy. It may describe a clinical condition, a physical feature visible in a fossil, or a characteristic of a species. Because it is a specialized term, it should generally not be substituted for an ordinary expression such as “large-headed” in casual speech. Macrocephalic is related to macrocephaly, the condition or anatomical feature involving an enlarged head, and contrasts with microcephalic, meaning abnormally small-headed. Its specialized usage distinguishes it from similarly sounding words: it refers specifically to head size, not intelligence, height, or overall body proportions.
adjectiveHaving an abnormally large head or skull, especially in relation to the rest of the body. The term is used chiefly in medicine and biological anthropology.
- Having an abnormally large head or skull, especially relative to the rest of the body.
"The radiographs showed a macrocephalic skull with an unusually large cranial vault."
"The specialist examined the macrocephalic child and ordered further imaging."
"The fossil's macrocephalic proportions distinguish it from most members of its species."
Macrocephalic describes a head that is unusually large relative to the body, a term most often encountered in medicine and the study of human evolution.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does macrocephalic come from?
The word combines the combining form macro-, from Greek makros meaning “large,” with -cephalic, from Greek kephalē meaning “head.” Together, these elements literally indicate a “large head.” The related noun macrocephaly uses the same roots and refers to the condition or characteristic of having an abnormally large head.
Related word forms
How macrocephalic is actually used
This is a specialized medical and scientific adjective, not a general term for someone with a large head. It usually indicates a disproportionate or abnormally large cranial vault rather than ordinary variation in head size.