meiosis

noun

mei·​o·​sis mī-ˈō-səs 

1

: the presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : understatement

2

: the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division compare mitosis

meiotic

mī-ˈä-tik 

adjective

meiotically

mī-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of meiosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chromosome pairs are also essential for meiosis, the specialized type of cell division that produces sperm and eggs. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026

The media business always goes through some splitting of cells — meiosis and mitosis — but every industry leader concedes that consolidation is especially needed today. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 30 June 2026

According to the study, THC interferes with meiosis, the cell division process crucial for producing healthy eggs. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

In meiosis, a cell also divides into two halves, but these halves each have 23 chromosomes. — Krissi Danielsson, Parents, 30 July 2024

That division, called meiosis, results in the egg, which can eventually be fertilized by a sperm, and three extra cells called polar bodies. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024

The lab is also trying to figure out how to get eggs to enter a special form of cell division called meiosis that prepares them for being fertilized. — Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023

My sons’ high-school biology classes spent more time designing a model recycling center than teaching mitosis and meiosis. — Andy Kessler, WSJ, 18 Sep. 2022

In automixis, small cells called polar bodies – also produced through meiosis with eggs – can merge with an egg to produce offspring and create offspring that are similar to the mother but not exact clones. — Julia Musto, Fox News, 20 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek meiōsis diminution, from meioun to diminish, from meiōn less; akin to Sanskrit mīyate he diminishes

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for meiosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis
• narcosis

Kids Definition

meiosis

noun

mei·​o·​sis mī-ˈō-səs 

plural meioses

-ˈō-ˌsēz

: the process by which the number of chromosomes in a cell that produces sex cells is reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell followed by a mitotic division compare mitosis sense 1

meiotic

mī-ˈät-ik 

adjective

meiotically

-ˈät-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

meiosis

noun

mei·​o·​sis mī-ˈō-səs 

plural meioses -ˌsēz 

: the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division compare mitosis sense 1

meiotic

mī-ˈät-ik 

adjective

meiotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb