genotype

1 of 2

noun

ge·​no·​type ˈjē-nə-ˌtīp  ˈje- 

1

[ISV gen-] : type species

2

[ISV gene] : all or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group compare phenotype entry 1 sense 1

genotypic

ˌjē-nə-ˈti-pik  ˌje- 

adjective

or less commonly genotypical

ˌjē-nə-ˈti-pi-kəl 

ˌje-

genotypic analysis

genotypically

ˌjē-nə-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˌje-

adverb

genotypically similar strains

genotype

2 of 2

verb

genotyped; genotyping; genotypes

transitive verb

: to determine all or part of the genetic constitution of

Because many Icelanders have now been genotyped, meaning their DNA has been analyzed at many sites spaced across the genome, the Decode researchers were able to pick a set of 40 sites where the DNA variations were diagnostic of geographic origin.

—Nicholas Wade

Genotyping of multiple B. pseudomallei colonies from several tissue sites from four patients … showed substantial genetic diversity within a single patient …

—W. Joost Wiersinga

genotyping noun

Examples of genotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The center has offered to cover the lab fees associated with creating a genotype profile to search for relatives. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026

Unrefined emu oil is a biologically active kind of emu oil obtained from a specific genotype of emus that are only raised on Australian soil. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2026

Verb

To keep track of every category of color, Travis genotypes his alpacas. — Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024

To avoid contamination, team members had their DNA genotyped so their own sequences could be identified and removed from the samples. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for genotype

• allotype
• antitype
• archetype
• biotype
• collotype
• haplotype
• holotype
• hypotype
• isotype
• lectotype
• linotype
• monotype

Kids Definition

genotype

noun

ge·​no·​type ˈjē-nə-ˌtīp  ˈjen-ə- 

: the whole set of genes of an individual or group

genotypic

ˌjē-nə-ˈtip-ik 

ˌjen-ə-

adjective

Medical Definition

genotype

1 of 2 noun

ge·​no·​type ˈjē-nə-ˌtīp  ˈjen-ə- 

1

: type species

2

: all or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group compare phenotype

genotypic

ˌjē-nə-ˈtip-ik  ˌjen-ə- 

adjective

also genotypical

-i-kəl 

genotypically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

genotype

2 of 2 transitive verb

genotyped; genotyping

: to determine the genotype of

DNA samples from the participants were genotyped for two common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding region of the vitamin D–binding protein gene …

—Camille E. Powe et al., The New England Journal of Medicine