ecotype
noun
eco·type
ˈē-kə-ˌtīp 
ˈe-
: a population of a species that survives as a distinct group through environmental selection and isolation and that is comparable with a taxonomic subspecies
Examples of ecotype in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In botany, an ecotype occurs when a plant adapts to different environmental conditions with different size, appearance, or other traits.
—
Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 2025
Not only one species, not only one varieties, not only one ecotype, but mixed.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
Join 4 others in the comments View Comments While there is just one species of orca there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behavior.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 2025
Not only one species, not only one varieties, not only one ecotype, but mixed.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
Join 4 others in the comments View Comments While there is just one species of orca there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behavior.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ecotype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecotype. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share