What does plantigrade mean?
The term plantigrade refers to a type of foot or gait where the heel and sole of the foot touch the ground, characteristic of humans and some other animals. This is in contrast to digitigrade animals, which walk on their toes, or unguligrade animals, which walk on their hooves. The word plantigrade can be used as an adjective to describe this type of foot or gait, or as a noun to refer to an animal that exhibits this characteristic. Understanding the term plantigrade is useful in fields such as biology, anatomy, and zoology, where it is used to classify and describe different species. The term is also relevant in discussions of human evolution and locomotion.
Having a plantigrade foot or gait.
"The human foot is plantigrade."
An animal that walks on its heels and soles.
"Humans are plantigrades."
Countable, used to refer to multiple animals.
"The zoologist studied several plantigrades during her research."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of plantigrade
The word plantigrade comes from the Latin words planta, meaning 'sole of the foot', and gradus, meaning 'step' or 'grade'.
Usage notes
Formal or technical usage, often in biology or anatomy.