frameshift
adjective
frame·shift
ˈfrām-ˌshift 
: relating to, being, or causing a mutation in which a number of nucleotides not divisible by three is inserted or deleted so as to change the reading frame of some triplet codons during genetic translation
frameshift
noun
Cite this Entry
“Frameshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frameshift. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
frameshift
adjective
frame·shift
-ˌshift
: relating to, being, or causing a mutation in which a number of nucleotides not divisible by three is inserted or deleted so that some triplet codons are read incorrectly during genetic translation
frameshift mutations
frameshift mutagens
frameshift
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share