polymorphism
noun
poly·mor·phism ˌpä-lē-ˈmȯr-ˌfi-zəm 
: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: such as
a(1)
: existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex
(2)
: existence of a gene in several allelic forms
also : a variation in a specific DNA sequence
(3)
: existence of a molecule (such as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species
b
: the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure
polymorphic
ˌpä-lē-ˈmȯr-fik
adjective polymorphically
ˌpä-lē-ˈmȯr-fi-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Some people have a polymorphism that instructs their body to create two of the same enzyme instead of just one. 
C. Michael White, The Conversation, 4 Oct. 2021 The campaign uses a technique called polymorphism to blast out hundreds of thousands of unique samples. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 Dec. 2020 Some of us have a polymorphism, a genetic variant that slows our metabolism for caffeine. Dawn Mackeen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020 Genomic Prediction screens embryos for 1m single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—tiny variations in individuals’ DNA that, added together, can raise or lower the likelihood of suffering a particular disease. The Economist, 8 Nov. 2019 Each variant has a version (more precisely, one of the alleles in a single nucleotide polymorphism) associated with a small boost to the trait in question. Charles Murray, WSJ, 27 Jan. 2020 Both examined more than 500,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—swaps of one nucleotide for another at a particular spot in the DNA—from the Human Genome Diversity Panel. Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2012 But then the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits Consortium—the GIANT consortium for short—identified more than 20,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that influence height in a series of groundbreaking studies. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 18 Sep. 2018 These sites are called single nucleotide polymorphisms — a.k.a. Brian Resnick, Vox, 27 Oct. 2018 See More
C. Michael White, The Conversation, 4 Oct. 2021 The campaign uses a technique called polymorphism to blast out hundreds of thousands of unique samples. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 Dec. 2020 Some of us have a polymorphism, a genetic variant that slows our metabolism for caffeine. Dawn Mackeen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020 Genomic Prediction screens embryos for 1m single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—tiny variations in individuals’ DNA that, added together, can raise or lower the likelihood of suffering a particular disease. The Economist, 8 Nov. 2019 Each variant has a version (more precisely, one of the alleles in a single nucleotide polymorphism) associated with a small boost to the trait in question. Charles Murray, WSJ, 27 Jan. 2020 Both examined more than 500,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—swaps of one nucleotide for another at a particular spot in the DNA—from the Human Genome Diversity Panel. Gary Stix, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2012 But then the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits Consortium—the GIANT consortium for short—identified more than 20,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that influence height in a series of groundbreaking studies. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 18 Sep. 2018 These sites are called single nucleotide polymorphisms — a.k.a. Brian Resnick, Vox, 27 Oct. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1839, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing polymorphism
Medical Definition
polymorphism
noun
poly·mor·phism ˌpäl-i-ˈmȯr-ˌfiz-əm
: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: as
a(1)
: existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex
(2)
: existence of a gene in several allelic forms
also : a variation in a specific sequence of DNA
(3)
: existence of a molecule (as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species
b
: the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure