To save this word, you'll need to log in.
tel·e·on·o·my | \ ˌte-lē-ˈä-nə-mē 
, ˌtē- \
, ˌtē- \Definition of teleonomy
: the quality of apparent purposefulness of structure or function in living organisms due to evolutionary adaptation
Other Words from teleonomy
teleonomic \ ˌte-lē-ə-ˈnä-mik , ˌtē- \ adjective
, ˌtē- \ adjectiveKeep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for teleonomy
teleonomy
nounte·le·on·o·my | \ ˌtel-ē-ˈän-ə-mē , ˌtēl- \
, ˌtēl- \ plural teleonomies
Medical Definition of teleonomy
: the quality of apparent purposefulness of structure or function in living organisms that derives from their evolutionary adaptation
Other Words from teleonomy
teleonomic \ ˌtel-ē-ə-ˈnäm-ik , ˌtēl- \ adjective
, ˌtēl- \ adjectiveComments on teleonomy
What made you want to look up teleonomy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Homophone Quiz
- In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a
______.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share teleonomy
Time Traveler for teleonomy
The first known use of teleonomy was in 1958
See more words from the same year