What does polydactyl mean?
Polydactyl means having more fingers or toes than the usual number, and the noun refers to a person or animal born with such extra digits. The condition, called polydactyly, may affect the hands, feet, or both and can sometimes be inherited. In medicine and biology, polydactyl is the standard term for increased numbers of digits; it should not be confused with syndactyly, in which adjacent digits are joined together. Polydactyly also occurs naturally in some animals, especially cats, where it is associated with certain breeds and populations. These cats are sometimes called mitten cats because the clustered extra toes can resemble a mitten. The word is useful in describing both human anatomical variation and inherited traits in animals, while remaining primarily a technical rather than everyday term.
Having an unusually large number of fingers or toes.
"The geneticist explained that the kitten was polydactyl."
Common in medical, biological, and genetic descriptions.
A person or animal with more fingers or toes than usual.
"The sanctuary was known for caring for polydactyl cats."
The word may refer to either a human being or an animal.
Used when referring to multiple people or animals with extra digits.
"Two of the sanctuary's polydactyls were adopted in the same week."
Some cats are born polydactyl, often called mitten cats because their extra toes resemble a mitten.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polydactyl come from?
Polydactyl combines the combining form poly-, from Greek polus meaning “many,” with dactyl, from Greek daktylos meaning “finger.” The compound refers to the possession of more fingers or toes than normal. Its cognate medical term, polydactyly, was formed from the same roots and denotes the condition itself.
Related word forms
How polydactyl is actually used
The adjective is generally used in medical, biological, and genetic contexts. The noun can refer to either a person or an animal, including cats in which extra toes are a naturally occurring inherited trait.
Easily confused with polydactyl
Polydactyly means that digits are extra or unusually numerous, whereas syndactyly means that two or more digits are joined or fused together.