nonphototactic
|non-pho-to-tac-tic|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnfoʊtəˈtæktɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnfəʊtəˈtæktɪk/
not showing directed movement in response to light
Etymology
'nonphototactic' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'non-' + 'phototactic', where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'phototactic' is built from Greek roots 'phōtós' (light) + 'taxis' (arrangement, ordering; in biology: directed movement).
'phototactic' derives from New Latin 'phototaxis' (from Greek 'phōtós' + 'taxis'); English formed 'phototactic' and then the negative compound appeared as 'non-phototactic' (hyphenated) before becoming the closed form 'nonphototactic'.
Initially it meant 'not showing phototaxis' and this core meaning has remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not phototactic; not exhibiting phototaxis (i.e., not tending to move toward or away from light).
The larvae were nonphototactic, remaining distributed regardless of the light source.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 00:44