cryptogam

1 of 2

noun

cryp·​to·​gam ˈkrip-tə-ˌgam 

: a plant or plantlike organism (such as a fern, moss, alga, or fungus) reproducing by spores and not producing flowers or seed

cryptogamic

ˌkrip-tə-ˈga-mik 

adjective

or less commonly cryptogamous

krip-ˈtä-gə-məs 

cryptogamic

2 of 2

adjective

cryp·​to·​gam·​ic ¦krip-tə-¦ga-mik 

variants or less commonly cryptogamical

¦krip-tə-¦ga-mi-kəl

or cryptogamous

(ˈ)krip-¦tä-gə-məs 

or cryptogamian

¦krip-tə-¦ga-mē-ən, 

-¦gā-

: belonging or relating to the nonflowering plants or to the old group Cryptogamia

Examples of cryptogam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There is a huge potential in alternative materials sourced from unconventional, undervalued, small species like cryptogams, bacteria, and fungi. —Charles Curkin, ELLE Decor, 22 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French cryptogame "cryptogamous, cryptogam" (after Cryptogamia, Linnaean group of non-seed-bearing plants), from crypto- crypto- + -game -gamous

Adjective

New Latin Cryptogamia + English -ic, -ical or -ous or -an

First Known Use

Noun

1799, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1770, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cryptogam

noun

cryp·​to·​gam ˈkrip-tə-ˌgam 

: a plant or plantlike organism (as a fern, moss, alga, or fungus) reproducing by spores and not producing flowers or seed

cryptogamic

ˌkrip-tə-ˈgam-ik 

adjective

or cryptogamous

krip-ˈtäg-ə-məs