fissiparous
/fɪˈsɪp(ə)rəs
/adjective
1Inclined to cause or undergo division into separate parts or groups: the fissiparous tendencies innate in tribalism she was unsuccessful in holding a fissiparous membership together...
- We have too many fissiparous tendencies in the two countries to take risks.
- There are clear limits to what voluntary organizations can do to remedy the fissiparous tendencies of an inherently selfish capitalism.
- Despite their fissiparous tendencies, they spread steadily.
1.1 Biology (Of an organism) reproducing by fission: small fissiparous worms...
- Regeneration has been entrained to complete an asexual life cycle in fissiparous and comet-forming starfish.
- It is noted that fissiparous and cometforming starfish have entrained the regeneration pathway into their life cycle.
Derivatives
fissiparity
fissiparously
fissiparousness
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin fissus, past participle of findere 'split', on the pattern of viviparous.