dizygotic

adjective

di·​zy·​got·​ic ˌdī-(ˌ)zī-ˈgä-tik How to pronounce dizygotic (audio)
variants or less commonly dizygous
of twins

Examples of dizygotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Well, there are two kinds of twins: identical twins (called monozygotic, or MZ) and fraternal twins (called dizygotic, or DZ). Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2012 Twinning varies across populations and families, but that variance tends to be of the fraternal (dizygotic) variety. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2011 Identical, or monozygotic (MZ), pairs have identical DNA, while dizygotic (DZ) twins are no more alike than any other brothers or sisters, genetically. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2011 The surges in twin births occurred only in fraternal twins, or dizygotic twins, where two eggs were separately fertilized. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Mar. 2021 The rate of fraternal (or dizygotic) twins tends to rise with the use of certain fertility assistance drugs. Brian Clark Howard, National Geographic, 2 Sep. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dizygotic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dizygotic was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near dizygotic

Cite this Entry

“Dizygotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dizygotic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

dizygotic

adjective
di·​zy·​got·​ic ˌdī-zī-ˈgät-ik How to pronounce dizygotic (audio)
variants also dizygous
of twins
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