non-mammalian
|non-mam-ma-li-an|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑn.məˈmeɪ.li.ən/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒn.məˈmeɪ.lɪ.ən/
not a mammal
Etymology
'non-mammalian' originates from English, combining the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') with 'mammalian' (from New Latin 'Mammalia', ultimately from Latin 'mamma' meaning 'breast').
'mammal' was derived from New Latin 'Mammalia' (a taxonomic class named by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century) from Latin 'mamma' meaning 'breast'. The adjective 'mammalian' developed from that noun, and the English prefix 'non-' was added to form 'non-mammalian'.
Initially it literally meant 'not mammalian' (i.e., not of the class Mammalia); this literal biological meaning has remained stable, though the term is also used in broader or metaphorical contexts in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an organism that is not a mammal; a member of a group of animals outside the class Mammalia.
Many non-mammalians, such as reptiles and birds, lay eggs.
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Adjective 1
not belonging to the class Mammalia; relating to animals that are not mammals (e.g., birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates).
Scientists compared the immune response in mammals and non-mammalian species.
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Last updated: 2025/09/30 08:14