polymorphism

[pol-ee-mawr-fiz-uhm] / ˌpɒl iˈmɔr fɪz əm /

NOUN

variety

Synonyms

STRONG

array assortment change collection combo conglomeration departure discrepancy disparateness divergency diverseness diversification diversity fluctuation heterogeneity heterogeneousness incongruity intermixture medley miscellany mishmash mixture modification multifariousness multiplicity potpourri range shift soup stew variance variation variegation

WEAK

cross section many-sidedness miscellaneousness mixed bag multiformity mélange variousness

Antonyms

STRONG

agreement similarity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"There are a number of genetic polymorphisms - slight changes in the genes - that will actually determine whether somebody has that innate ability to be able to compete at the elite level," he explains.

From BBC

Some solid metals exist in various structural forms, a phenomenon known as polymorphism.

From Nature

The dissimilarity may also increase genetic polymorphism, which in turn may lower the manifestation of recessive diseases.

From Scientific American

To identify factors governing the establishment of a variety of colour polymorphisms in O. pumilio, Yang and colleagues investigated whether imprinting occurs in this species, a behaviour that hasn’t previously been reported in amphibians.

From Nature

In 2005 we were printing our own microarrays and trying to simultaneously sequence hundreds of SNPs — single nucleotide polymorphisms, the most common type of genetic variation.

From Nature