Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

homoplasy

noun
ho·​mo·​pla·​sy | \ ˈhō-mə-ˌplā-sē How to pronounce homoplasy (audio) , ˈhä-, -ˌpla-; hō-ˈmä-plə-sē\

Definition of homoplasy

: correspondence between parts or organs acquired as the result of parallel evolution or convergence

First Known Use of homoplasy

1870, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about homoplasy

Statistics for homoplasy

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for homoplasy

The first known use of homoplasy was in 1870

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for homoplasy

homoplasy

noun
ho·​mo·​pla·​sy | \ ˈhō-mə-ˌplā-sē How to pronounce homoplasy (audio) , ˈhäm-ə- How to pronounce homoplasy (audio) , -ˌplas-ē; hō-ˈmäp-lə-sē How to pronounce homoplasy (audio) \

Medical Definition of homoplasy

: correspondence between parts or organs acquired as the result of parallel evolution or convergence

More from Merriam-Webster on homoplasy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about homoplasy

Comments on homoplasy

What made you want to look up homoplasy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

coin of the realm

Listen to the pronounciation of coin of the realm

something valued as if it were money

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games