Definition of NEOTENY

Examples of neoteny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There is some association with neoteny and the ability to regenerate. — Fox News, "Cannibalistic smiling salamander may unlock secrets for limb regeneration," 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, "Domesticated animals, explained," 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, "Faye Flam: In defense of the not-so-cute animals," 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, "In defense of the not-so-cute animals," 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, "Domesticated animals, explained," 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, "Dear Royal Baby: Being the Youngest Child Comes With Some Surprising Advantages," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neoteny.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for neoteny

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."

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