sexual dimorphism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “sexual dimorphism” mean?
The systematic phenotypic difference between males and females of the same biological species, beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The systematic phenotypic difference between males and females of the same biological species, beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
In biology and zoology, it refers to differences in appearance, size, ornamentation, or behaviour between sexes. The term can also be used, by analogy, in sociocultural contexts to discuss perceived or constructed differences between genders.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is international scientific vocabulary.
Connotations
Purely scientific in both dialects, with no known regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency and context in British and American academic/technical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “sexual dimorphism” in a Sentence
The X (species) exhibits/showcases/possesses sexual dimorphism.Sexual dimorphism is evident/pronounced/observed in X (species).A study of sexual dimorphism in Y (feature).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sexual dimorphism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (The term is a noun phrase; no verb form.)
American English
- (The term is a noun phrase; no verb form.)
adverb
British English
- (No direct adverbial form; can use 'sexually dimorphically' but it is exceptionally rare and awkward.)
American English
- (No direct adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- The sexually dimorphic traits were clearly visible.
- They studied dimorphic characteristics.
American English
- Sexually dimorphic characteristics were documented.
- They observed dimorphic features.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except possibly in specialised biotech contexts.
Academic
Very common in biology, zoology, anthropology, and evolutionary psychology papers.
Everyday
Very rare; would be considered highly technical or pretentious.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Found in field guides, research articles, and textbooks on biology, evolution, and animal behaviour.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sexual dimorphism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sexual dimorphism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sexual dimorphism”
- Using 'sexual dimorphism' to refer to socio-cultural gender roles (this is a conceptual error).
- Misspelling as 'sexual dymorphism' or 'sexual dimorphisim'.
- Mispronouncing 'dimorphism' with stress on the first syllable (correct: di-MORPH-ism).
- Using it as a synonym for 'gender inequality'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Sexual dimorphism is a biological concept describing physical differences between biological sexes within a species. Gender roles are sociocultural constructs about behaviours and identities. Confusing the two is a common error.
No. Many species are sexually monomorphic, meaning males and females look identical to the human eye (e.g., many species of geese, some lizards). The degree of dimorphism varies greatly across the animal kingdom.
Yes, but it is relatively subtle compared to species like birds of paradise. Humans exhibit sexual dimorphism in average height, body composition (muscle mass, fat distribution), and certain skeletal features. However, there is significant overlap between the sexes for most traits.
The opposite is sexual monomorphism, where the two sexes are identical in external morphology, or isomorphic.
The systematic phenotypic difference between males and females of the same biological species, beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
Sexual dimorphism is usually academic / technical / scientific in register.
Sexual dimorphism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛkʃuəl daɪˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛkʃuəl daɪˈmɔːrfɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none - the term is a technical compound noun)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SEXUAL = relating to male/female. DIMORPHISM = DI (two) + MORPH (form/shape) + ISM (state of). The state of having two forms based on sex, like a peacock (colourful male) vs. peahen (brown female).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SPECIES IS A TWO-FORMED ENTITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'sexual dimorphism' used most accurately?