dioecious

adjective

di·​oe·​cious (ˌ)dī-ˈē-shəs How to pronounce dioecious (audio)
1
: having male reproductive organs in one individual and female in another
2
: having staminate and pistillate flowers borne on different individuals
dioecism
(ˌ)dī-ˈē-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce dioecious (audio)
noun
dioecy
ˈdī-ˌē-sē How to pronounce dioecious (audio)
noun

Examples of dioecious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the manner of dioecious plants generally — from pistachio trees to date palms — jojoba is wind-pollinated. — Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024 But the general behavioral point is rooted in realities of anatomy and life-history; in many dioecious species males and females exhibit a great deal of biological and behavioral dimorphism. — Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2010

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Dioecia, class name (from Greek di- di- + oîkos "house, home" + New Latin -ia -ia entry 1) + -ous — more at vicinity

Note: The class name Dioecia was introduced by linnaeus in his Systema naturae (Leiden, 1735).

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dioecious was in 1752

Rhymes for dioecious

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Browse Nearby Words

dioecio-
dioecious
Diogenean
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Cite this Entry

“Dioecious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dioecious. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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