missing link: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, academic, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “missing link” mean?
A transitional form or intermediate stage needed to complete a sequence or series, most famously hypothesized to connect humans to other primates.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A transitional form or intermediate stage needed to complete a sequence or series, most famously hypothesized to connect humans to other primates.
Any crucial piece of evidence or intermediate element that is absent but necessary to understand the connection between two things or to complete a process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong scientific/historical connotations. Can be used humorously or pejoratively (e.g., calling someone a 'missing link' implies primitiveness).
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in historical/scientific contexts, but comparable overall.
Grammar
How to Use “missing link” in a Sentence
be + the missing link (+ between X and Y)find/provide/identify + the missing linkX is considered/seen as + the missing linkVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “missing link” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The missing-link fossil was carefully analysed.
- He proposed a missing-link hypothesis.
American English
- The missing-link theory has been debated for decades.
- Researchers sought missing-link evidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new market data was the missing link in our strategy."
Academic
"The fossil represents a potential missing link between early reptiles and mammals."
Everyday
"I've found my keys—that was the missing link to leaving the house!"
Technical
"The algorithm failed because a missing link in the logic chain caused an infinite loop."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “missing link”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “missing link”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “missing link”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The data missing links the theories' – INCORRECT). Confusing it with 'weak link' (which is the poorest part of a chain).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern palaeoanthropology often avoids 'missing link' as it implies a linear, simplistic progression. Terms like 'transitional fossil' or 'intermediate form' are preferred.
Yes, but it is often derogatory, implying someone is primitive or unsophisticated (e.g., 'He's the missing link in our family tree'). Use with caution.
Yes, 'missing links' is used when referring to multiple hypothesized transitional forms or multiple gaps in understanding.
A 'missing link' is absent but needed to complete something. A 'weak link' is present but is the most vulnerable or poorest part of a chain or system.
A transitional form or intermediate stage needed to complete a sequence or series, most famously hypothesized to connect humans to other primates.
Missing link is usually formal, academic, journalistic in register.
Missing link: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsɪŋ ˈlɪŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsɪŋ ˈlɪŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to be) the missing link in the chain”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a chain with one link removed; you can't complete the chain without that MISSING LINK.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING IS A CHAIN (a broken chain implies incomplete understanding).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'missing link' used in its original, literal sense?