anisognathism
|an-i-so-gnath-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsoʊˈnæθɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəˈnæθɪzəm/
unequal jaws
Etymology
'anisognathism' originates from Greek elements: 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and 'gnathos' meaning 'jaw', combined in modern scientific coinage.
'anisognathism' was formed in modern scientific/Latinized English from the Greek elements 'anisos' + 'gnathos'; related technical formations include 'anisognathic' and 'anisognathous'.
Initially coined to denote 'unequal jaws' in anatomical descriptions; the term has retained this specialized meaning in biological and anatomical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition or state of having unequal jaws; anatomical asymmetry in which the upper and lower jaws (or two opposing jaws) differ in size or shape. Used chiefly in biological and anatomical descriptions.
Anisognathism is observed in some bird species, where the upper mandible is noticeably broader than the lower.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/13 09:06