hermaphroditic

adjective

her·​maph·​ro·​dit·​ic (ˌ)hər-ˌma-frə-ˈdi-tik 

: possessing both male and female reproductive organs, structures, or tissue : exhibiting hermaphroditism : of, relating to, or being a hermaphrodite

hermaphroditic worms

hermaphroditic flowers

Most corals are hermaphroditic—they release both male and female gametes.

—John Vandenbeld

hermaphroditically

(ˌ)hər-ˌma-frə-ˈdi-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of hermaphroditic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Are there any other hermaphroditic fishes that use the same molecular pathways? — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Feb. 2026

These rare hermaphroditic snails are only found in New Zealand and much of their lives has remained a mystery. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 May 2025

There were around 10 baby sea stars, each the spitting image of their parent, which like many starfish was probably hermaphroditic. — Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2023

These hermaphroditic creatures must surely represent some kind of metaphor, too obscure to be easily interpreted. — Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Mar. 2022

In most hermaphroditic animals, an individual grows up and develops the organs that make both sperm and eggs. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2011

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin hermaphrodīticus, from Latin hermaphrodītus hermaphrodite entry 1 + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hermaphroditic

• cellulolytic
• electrolytic
• fibrinolytic
• histiocytic
• melanocytic
• meteoritic
• osteolytic
• proteolytic
• analytic
• anxiolytic
• astrocytic
• austenitic

Kids Definition

hermaphroditic

adjective

her·​maph·​ro·​dit·​ic

(ˌ)hər-ˌmaf-rə-ˈdit-ik

: having both male and female reproductive organs

hermaphroditism

-ˈmaf-rə-ˌdit-ˌiz-əm

noun