Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

ploidy

noun ploi·dy \ ˈplȯi-dē \

Definition of ploidy

: degree of repetition of the basic number of chromosomes

Origin and Etymology of ploidy

from such words as diploidy, hexaploidy

Medical Dictionary

ploidy

noun ploi·dy \ ˈplȯid-ē \

medical Definition of ploidy

plural ploidies
: degree of repetition of the basic number of chromosomes

Learn More about ploidy

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ploidy

Seen and Heard

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

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

ploidy

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

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