syndactyly

noun syn·dac·ty·ly \ (ˌ)sin-ˈdak-tə-lē \

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

Definition of syndactyly

: a union of two or more digits that is normal in some animals (such as various marsupials) and that in humans occurs as an inherited condition or as a part of several genetic disorders and is marked by webbing of two or more fingers or toes and sometimes bony fusion of adjacent digits

Recent Examples of syndactyly from the Web

The same may be true of developmental disorders — like syndactyly.

— natalie angier, New York Times, "A Family’s Shared Defect Sheds Light on the Human Genome," 9 Jan. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of syndactyly

New Latin syndactylia, from syn- + Greek daktylos finger

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1864

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

syndactyly

noun syn·dac·ty·ly \ -lē \

medical Definition of syndactyly

plural syndactylies

: a union of two or more digits that is normal in many birds (as kingfishers) and in some lower mammals (as the kangaroos) and that occurs in humans often as a hereditary disorder marked by the joining or webbing of two or more fingers or toes