monospermy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “monospermy” mean?
The condition or process where only one sperm fertilizes an egg cell.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The condition or process where only one sperm fertilizes an egg cell.
In biology, specifically embryology, the normal condition of fertilization in which the egg's mechanisms prevent the entry of additional sperm after one has successfully penetrated, ensuring the correct number of chromosomes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is identical and used in the same technical contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical; no additional connotations in either variety.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language but standard within its technical domain in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “monospermy” in a Sentence
Monospermy occurs in [organism/egg type].The [mechanism/barrier] ensures monospermy.A failure of monospermy leads to [consequence].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monospermy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The monospermic condition is crucial for viable development.
- Researchers observed monospermic fertilisation in the sample.
American English
- The monospermic condition is crucial for viable development.
- Researchers observed monospermic fertilization in the sample.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in advanced biological sciences, particularly in research papers and textbooks on reproduction, embryology, and cell biology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in reproductive biology and assisted reproductive technology (ART) to describe the desired and normal outcome of fertilization.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “monospermy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “monospermy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monospermy”
- Misspelling as 'monosperm' (which could be a noun for a type of plant seed).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The egg monospermied').
- Confusing it with 'monospermous' (an adjective describing plants with a single seed).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The concept is similar—one sperm fertilizing one egg cell—but the specific cellular mechanisms that enforce monospermy can differ significantly between plants and animals.
In In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), technicians often use Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), which directly injects a single sperm into an egg, thus manually ensuring monospermy.
The opposite is polyspermy, where multiple sperm penetrate the egg. This is usually a pathological condition leading to embryo death.
No. 'Monospermy' is a highly specialized scientific term. You will only encounter it in very advanced biological texts or specific academic discussions.
The condition or process where only one sperm fertilizes an egg cell.
Monospermy is usually technical/scientific in register.
Monospermy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒnə(ʊ)ˌspɜːmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːnəˌspɜːrmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MONO' (one) + 'SPERM' + 'Y' (state/condition). It's the state where only ONE SPERM gets in.
Conceptual Metaphor
A strict security checkpoint that allows only one authorized entry.
Practice
Quiz
What is the direct biological consequence of a failure of monospermy?