Definition of polymorphism
: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: such as
a (1)
: existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex
(2)
: existence of a gene in several allelic forms;
also
: a variation in a specific DNA sequence
(3)
: existence of a molecule (such as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species
b
: the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure
