hermaphrodite
1 of 2noun
her·maph·ro·dite (ˌ)hər-ˈma-frə-ˌdīt 
plural hermaphrodites
1
: an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs, structures, or tissue : an organism exhibiting hermaphroditism
2
: something that is a combination of diverse elements
hermaphrodite
2 of 2adjective
: possessing both male and female reproductive organs, structures, or tissue : hermaphroditic
hermaphrodite plants
Like their relatives the earthworms, leeches are hermaphrodite animals. Each individual has both male and female sex organs but cannot fertilize itself.
Mark Carwardine
Mark Carwardine
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Neil Winton, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 The lancetfish found onshore in Drake’s Bay at Point Reyes National Seashore had a gaping fanged jaw, is cannibalistic, a hermaphrodite and has no scales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Gale Hollandstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2022 Jeffdanielsi are mostly self-fertilizing hermaphrodites that produce their own sperm and eggs; on average, a single hermaphrodite can produce 160 babies in its lifespan. Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Jan. 2022 Over centuries, the matted-haired, animal-skin wearing, hash-smoker has evolved into many things, including a hermaphrodite, for many people. Harish Pullanoor, Quartz India, 18 Dec. 2019 The majority of worms, also known as nematodes, generally break down into males and hermaphrodites. Fox News, 27 Sep. 2019 Leeches are hermaphrodites and have what's known as accessory pores that secrete mucus, which helps them stick together while mating. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2019 More than 30 years ago a team of scientists painstakingly traced the connections among each of the 302 nerve cells in the hermaphrodite Caenorhabditis elegans worm. Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, 3 July 2019 Typically the female roundworms of this intriguing species (Caenorhabditis elegans) are hermaphrodites and don’t need males to reproduce. National Geographic, 14 June 2019 See More
Noun
With the new 7 Series, BMW is presenting a hermaphrodite, in contrast to the Mercedes EQS. Neil Winton, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 The lancetfish found onshore in Drake’s Bay at Point Reyes National Seashore had a gaping fanged jaw, is cannibalistic, a hermaphrodite and has no scales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Gale Hollandstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2022 Jeffdanielsi are mostly self-fertilizing hermaphrodites that produce their own sperm and eggs; on average, a single hermaphrodite can produce 160 babies in its lifespan. Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Jan. 2022 Over centuries, the matted-haired, animal-skin wearing, hash-smoker has evolved into many things, including a hermaphrodite, for many people. Harish Pullanoor, Quartz India, 18 Dec. 2019 The majority of worms, also known as nematodes, generally break down into males and hermaphrodites. Fox News, 27 Sep. 2019 Leeches are hermaphrodites and have what's known as accessory pores that secrete mucus, which helps them stick together while mating. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2019 More than 30 years ago a team of scientists painstakingly traced the connections among each of the 302 nerve cells in the hermaphrodite Caenorhabditis elegans worm. Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, 3 July 2019 Typically the female roundworms of this intriguing species (Caenorhabditis elegans) are hermaphrodites and don’t need males to reproduce. National Geographic, 14 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English hermofrodite, from Latin hermaphroditus, from Greek hermaphroditos, from Hermaphroditos
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1607, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
hermaphrodite
noun
her·maph·ro·dite (ˌ)hər-ˈmaf-rə-ˌdīt
: an individual exhibiting hermaphroditism