parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈje-nə-səs 
: reproduction by development of an unfertilized usually female gamete that occurs especially among lower plants and invertebrate animals
Examples of parthenogenesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers drew parallels to animals that can reproduce through parthenogenesis, where the female gives birth using unfertilized eggs.
—
ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025
Read more Animals Dinosaurs: Groundbreaking Revelation Settles 30-Year-Old Debate
Specialized Dog Breeds Are Not So Special After All
Sharks are not the only species known to undergo parthenogenesis; the phenomenon has also been recorded in species of bird, fish, lizard and snake.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
One hypothesis is parthenogenesis occurs when females lack a male presence, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
In 2023, an epaulette shark was born via parthenogenesis at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago to a female shark that hadn’t been around males in at least four years, McClatchy News reported.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parthenogenesis
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ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025
Read more Animals Dinosaurs: Groundbreaking Revelation Settles 30-Year-Old Debate
Specialized Dog Breeds Are Not So Special After All
Sharks are not the only species known to undergo parthenogenesis; the phenomenon has also been recorded in species of bird, fish, lizard and snake.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
One hypothesis is parthenogenesis occurs when females lack a male presence, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
In 2023, an epaulette shark was born via parthenogenesis at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago to a female shark that hadn’t been around males in at least four years, McClatchy News reported.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parthenogenesis
Cite this Entry
“Parthenogenesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parthenogenesis. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈje-nə-səs
: reproduction especially among lower plants and invertebrates in which a germ cell that has not undergone fertilization develops into a new individual
Medical Definition
parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈjen-ə-səs
plural parthenogeneses
-ˌsēz
: reproduction by development of an unfertilized usually female gamete that occurs especially among lower plants and invertebrate animals
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