neoteny

noun

ne·​o·​te·​ny nē-ˈä-tə-nē 

1

: retention of some larval or immature characters in adulthood

2

: attainment of sexual maturity during the larval stage

neotenic

ˌnē-ə-ˈte-nik 

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The changes include neoteny, where juvenile appearance is preserved into adulthood. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2016

There is some association with neoteny and the ability to regenerate. —Fox News, 28 Oct. 2019

One memorable study begun in the Soviet Union in the 1950s found foxes that were bred for domesticable traits began exhibiting neoteny within just a few generations. —Natasha Daly, National Geographic, 4 July 2019

Such features in adult humans and other animals — a phenomenon called neoteny — can coax strong emotions from us. —Faye Flam, Twin Cities, 19 July 2019

Such features in adult humans and other animals - a phenomenon called neoteny - can coax strong emotions from us. —Faye Flam, chicagotribune.com, 10 July 2019

Often, domestic animals, in contrast to their wild counterparts, exhibit a feature known as neoteny—the retention of juvenile traits like soft fur, floppy ears, and bigger heads relative to their body size. —Natasha Daly, National Geographic, 4 July 2019

Humans are hopelessly drawn to neoteny—the kissable, squishable, button-nosed, big-eyed, irresistibility of babies—and your parents will generally have your back. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 23 Apr. 2018

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Neotenie, from Greek néos "young" + -o- -o- + teínein "to stretch, extend" + German -ie -y entry 2 — more at new entry 1, thin entry 1

Note: The word Neotenie was introduced by the German biologist Julius Kollmann (1834-1918) in "Das Ueberwintern von europäischen Frosch- und Tritonlarven und die Umwandlung des mexikanischen Axolotl," Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel, 7. Theil, 2. Heft (1884), p. 391. In explaining the coinage, Kollmann inaccurately glossed Greek teínein as "halten, hinhalten" ("hold, hold/put off"), perhaps through confusion with Latin tenēre "to hold."

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1