assortative
adjective
as·sor·ta·tive ə-ˈsȯr-tə-tiv 
: being nonrandom mating based on like or unlike characteristics
assortatively
ə-ˈsȯr-tə-tiv-lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web What all this amounts to is, in essence, a supercharged version of an existing process known as assortative mating. 
The Economist, 9 Nov. 2019 Thus Facebook is remaking the old world that was governed by social ties, probably reducing any benefits that may have come with less assortative coupling through online dating. The Economist, 12 Sep. 2019 Evidence suggests assortative mating is more common, meaning men with money and education now tend to marry women who have those qualities too. Allison Schrager, Quartz, 23 July 2019 That high level of assortative mating was massively inflating the heritability estimate. Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2018 The Atlantic piece takes a more sociological approach, looking at assortative mating, geographical self-sorting, and educational legacy and privilege. Alan Murray, Fortune, 17 May 2018 For centuries, royal weddings have been exercises in assortative mating, in which young people are matched, for the good of the line, with partners who are much like themselves. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 May 2018 Less clear, however, is whether or not assortative mating is on the rise. The Economist, 21 Sep. 2017 The growing trend of assortative mating demands affluent women marry men like themselves, with equal education and earnings potential, and all the bells and whistles that come with class privilege. Rich Benjamin, Esquire, 13 Sep. 2017 See More
The Economist, 9 Nov. 2019 Thus Facebook is remaking the old world that was governed by social ties, probably reducing any benefits that may have come with less assortative coupling through online dating. The Economist, 12 Sep. 2019 Evidence suggests assortative mating is more common, meaning men with money and education now tend to marry women who have those qualities too. Allison Schrager, Quartz, 23 July 2019 That high level of assortative mating was massively inflating the heritability estimate. Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2018 The Atlantic piece takes a more sociological approach, looking at assortative mating, geographical self-sorting, and educational legacy and privilege. Alan Murray, Fortune, 17 May 2018 For centuries, royal weddings have been exercises in assortative mating, in which young people are matched, for the good of the line, with partners who are much like themselves. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 May 2018 Less clear, however, is whether or not assortative mating is on the rise. The Economist, 21 Sep. 2017 The growing trend of assortative mating demands affluent women marry men like themselves, with equal education and earnings potential, and all the bells and whistles that come with class privilege. Rich Benjamin, Esquire, 13 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
1895, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
assortative
adjective
as·sor·ta·tive ə-ˈsȯrt-ət-iv
: being nonrandom mating based on like or unlike characteristics