What does polydactyly mean?
Polydactyly is the medical term for the congenital condition of having extra fingers or toes. The additional digits may occur on the hands, the feet, or both, and their position can vary. Polydactyly may appear as an isolated inherited feature, but it can also form part of a genetic disorder or congenital syndrome affecting other parts of the body. Doctors distinguish particular patterns using terms such as “postaxial,” which refers to the little-finger or little-toe side of a hand or foot. Genetic counselling and diagnostic testing may be considered when the condition occurs within a family or alongside other developmental features. The word is both precise and memorable: it comes from Greek elements meaning “many” and “finger,” directly describing the presence of an unusually large number of digits. In medical writing, polydactyly should be distinguished from syndactyly, in which adjacent digits are joined or fused rather than additional digits being present.
nounThe congenital condition of having one or more extra fingers or toes. It may occur as an isolated feature or as part of an inherited disorder or another congenital syndrome.
- The congenital presence of extra fingers or toes, whether isolated or associated with another developmental condition.
"The clinic diagnosed postaxial polydactyly, an extra little finger on the ulnar side of each hand."
"The newborn was born with polydactyly affecting both hands and one foot."
"Radiological and genetic assessments were performed to determine whether the polydactyly was isolated or part of a broader syndrome."
The plural is used when referring to multiple cases or instances of the condition.
"Cases of polydactylies were documented in several members of the family."
Polydactyly is literally “many-fingered”: its name comes from Greek words for “many” and “finger.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polydactyly come from?
The word was formed from the Greek polydaktylos, meaning “having many fingers,” from polys, “many,” and daktylos, “finger.” The modern medical noun developed from this Greek adjective and is also associated with terms such as dactyl and monodactyl, which likewise derive from daktylos.
Related word forms
How polydactyly is actually used
This is primarily a clinical and genetic term. It describes a developmental condition and should not be used merely for the temporary or acquired loss of digits.
Easily confused with polydactyly
Polydactyly names the congenital condition, while polydactyl describes a person, animal, or limb with more than the usual number of digits.