ontogeny
noun
on·tog·e·ny
än-ˈtä-jə-nē 
: the development or course of development especially of an individual organism
Examples of ontogeny in a Sentence
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Having a big nose: structure, ontogeny, and function of the elephant seal proboscis.
—
Darren Naish, Scientific American Blog Network, 3 June 2017
Whether referring to hormone levels or limb proportions, scientists refer to the physiological shifts that occur as an individual grows up as ontogeny or ontogenetic changes.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2017
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Darren Naish, Scientific American Blog Network, 3 June 2017
Whether referring to hormone levels or limb proportions, scientists refer to the physiological shifts that occur as an individual grows up as ontogeny or ontogenetic changes.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Ontogeny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ontogeny. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ontogeny
noun
on·tog·e·ny
än-ˈtäj-ə-nē
plural ontogenies
: the development or course of development of an individual organism
called also ontogenesis
compare phylogeny sense 2Love words? Need even more definitions?
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