heterozygous
adjective/ˌhɛtəroʊˈzaɪɡəs/
Frequency rank: #19,419 most common English word
Meaning
Having two different alleles for a particular gene, one from each parent.

Example sentence
The child inherited one dominant and one recessive allele, making her heterozygous for that trait.
Synonyms & related words
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 19,401–19,500
- magnetospherethe region surrounding a planet where its magnetic field dominates and traps charged particles.
- quartileOne of three points that divide a ranked dataset into four equal parts, or one of the four groups so formed.
- agnosticismThe belief that whether God or ultimate reality exists is unknown and perhaps unknowable.
- besiegeto surround and apply pressure from all sides; to crowd around overwhelmingly.
- foodstuffa substance used as food or as an ingredient in food products
- minuetA slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- operettaA short, light opera with spoken dialogue and often humorous or romantic themes.
- pepperyHaving a strong, sharp flavor like pepper; also describes a quick-tempered or irritable manner.
- shallotA small, mild-flavored bulb vegetable related to the onion.
- toucana large tropical bird known for its very large, brightly colored beak.