Y chromosome

noun

: a sex chromosome that is characteristic of male cells in species in which the male typically has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome

Examples of Y chromosome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team uncovered a wealth of environmental DNA on the drawing and one of the letters, including from bacteria, plants, animals and fungi — and a matching sequence of Y chromosomes from a male. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026

Females inherit an X chromosome from both parents, while males inherit an X chromosome from their mothers and a Y chromosome from their fathers. — Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Females have two X chromosomes, and males have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 17 May 2025

Male kittens, also like most other male mammals, have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. — Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 15 May 2025

In the case of the X and Y chromosomes in mammals, suppression of recombination has been hypothesized to cause progressive loss of gene function and even the loss of entire genes. — Donna L. Maney, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025

Biological females typically have two X chromosomes (XX), and biological males typically have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). — Loreben Tuquero, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Aug. 2024

According to the National Health Service in England, the presence of X and Y chromosomes in women can only be determined with chromosomal testing, usually given in the form of an ultrasound or a blood test. — Mark Puleo, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Y chromosome

• nucleosome
• trypanosome
• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb
• centrosome
• cytochrome
• hippodrome
• honeycomb
• liposome
• meerschaum
• metronome

Kids Definition

Y chromosome

noun

: a sex chromosome that is associated with maleness and occurs only in male cells paired with an X chromosome in organisms (as human beings) in which the male normally has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome

Medical Definition

Y chromosome

noun

ˈwī- 

: a sex chromosome that is characteristic of male cells in species in which the male typically has two unlike sex chromosomes compare x chromosome