polymorphism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “polymorphism” mean?
The quality or state of existing in several different forms, shapes, or versions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of existing in several different forms, shapes, or versions.
In biology: the occurrence of different forms among the members of a population or colony within the same species. In computer science: a feature allowing a single interface to operate on data of different types. In materials science: the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one crystal structure. In genetics: the occurrence of multiple alleles at a single locus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or application. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard BrE/AmE conventions.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both BrE and AmE, used almost exclusively in technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “polymorphism” in a Sentence
[Noun] polymorphismpolymorphism in [Noun]polymorphism of [Noun]to exhibit polymorphismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “polymorphism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The library was designed to polymorph effortlessly for different data types.
- Certain bacteria polymorph under stress.
American English
- The function parameters can polymorph based on the input object.
- The mineral polymorphs at high temperature.
adverb
British English
- The system handles data polymorphically.
- The crystals formed polymorphically under varying conditions.
American English
- The code was written to behave polymorphically.
- The trait is expressed polymorphically across the population.
adjective
British English
- The polymorphic nature of the virus complicates vaccine design.
- We used a polymorphic approach for the simulation.
American English
- Java's polymorphic collections are very powerful.
- The study focused on polymorphic gene sequences.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific tech-sector discussions about object-oriented programming (OOP).
Academic
Common in biology, genetics, computer science, and materials science research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
High-frequency core term in its respective technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polymorphism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “polymorphism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polymorphism”
- Misspelling as 'polymorhism' (dropping 'p').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'diversity' without the specific focus on distinct *forms*.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The ability to exist in or take on different forms.
No, it is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in technical and academic contexts such as biology, genetics, and computer science.
In biology, it refers to different physical forms within a species (e.g., butterflies with different wing patterns). In computer science, it refers to the ability of a function or object to operate on or represent different data types.
Ensuring you include the silent 'p' after the 'm' ('-morph-'), which people often misspell as 'polymorhism'.
Polymorphism is usually technical / academic in register.
Polymorphism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɒl.iˈmɔː.fɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɑː.liˈmɔːr.fɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'POLY' (many) + 'MORPH' (form/shape) + 'ISM' (state of being) = the state of having many forms.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHAPE-SHIFTER or CHAMELEON; one entity capable of presenting itself in multiple distinct guises.
Practice
Quiz
In which field would 'polymorphism' most likely refer to the existence of a substance in multiple crystal structures?