assortative mating: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2technical/academic
Quick answer
What does “assortative mating” mean?
A pattern in which individuals with similar traits are more likely to mate with each other than by random chance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pattern in which individuals with similar traits are more likely to mate with each other than by random chance.
In evolutionary biology and sociology, the non-random pairing of individuals based on phenotypic or social characteristics, which can influence genetic and social structures in populations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographical or pronunciation differences. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Strictly scientific/neutral in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse; confined to specialist literature.
Grammar
How to Use “assortative mating” in a Sentence
Assortative mating for [trait] (e.g., intelligence, height)Assortative mating by [social factor] (e.g., education, income)Assortative mating occurs/occurs among...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “assortative mating” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The birds appear to assortatively mate based on plumage colour.
American English
- Populations that assortatively mate for size show less genetic variation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in niche HR contexts discussing partnership formation within organisations.
Academic
Central concept in evolutionary biology, genetics, and sociological studies of marriage markets.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context, used with precision to describe mating patterns in populations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “assortative mating”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “assortative mating”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “assortative mating”
- Using 'assortive' (incorrect spelling).
- Confusing it with 'assertive' due to similar sound.
- Applying it to casual dating rather than long-term population-level patterns.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often studied in genetics, it is also a key concept in sociology for traits like education, income, and social attitudes.
In some species, individuals with dissimilar immune system genes (MHC) may preferentially mate, which is negative assortative mating.
No, it is observed across many animal and plant species as a fundamental evolutionary process.
It influences the genetic structure of populations and can increase or decrease variation for inherited traits, affecting evolution. Socially, it can reinforce socioeconomic stratification.
A pattern in which individuals with similar traits are more likely to mate with each other than by random chance.
Assortative mating is usually technical/academic in register.
Assortative mating: in British English it is pronounced /əˌsɔːtətɪv ˈmeɪtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌsɔːrt̬ətɪv ˈmeɪt̬ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ASSORT' like sorting into groups – assortative mating is sorting partners by similar traits.
Conceptual Metaphor
MATING AS A SORTING ALGORITHM
Practice
Quiz
What is the opposite of 'positive assortative mating'?