Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

heterosis

/hˌɛtɚˈoʊsəs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.56 in modern English

Syllables: het-ero-sis
IPA: /hˌɛtɚˈoʊsəs/

12

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The tendency of cross-breeding to produce an animal or plant with a greater hardiness than its parents; hybrid vigour.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Hybridisation can also result in heterosis - the scientific term for the production of ʽsuper fit’ hybrid individuals - many examples of which come from agriculture. Heterosis can be thought of as the opposite of inbreeding depression, the phenomenon whereby the offspring of individuals that are genetically too similar - for example, brother and sister - can suffer from debilitating maladies."

Etymology

From hetero- + -osis.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: hetero
Suffix: osis

Usage

Inflected Forms

heteroses (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

heterotic

Synonyms

hybrid vigor

Rhymes With

diagnosis prognosis sclerosis hypnosis psychosis fibrosis necrosis cirrhosis thrombosis symbiosis neurosis meiosis

Questions

How do you pronounce heterosis?: The recorded pronunciation is /hˌɛtɚˈoʊsəs/.
What does heterosis mean?: The tendency of cross-breeding to produce an animal or plant with a greater hardiness than its parents; hybrid vigour.
Where does heterosis come from?: From hetero- + -osis.

How to pronounce heterosis

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “heterosis”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/hˌɛtɚˈoʊsəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “heterosis”.
Repeat and practice — Say “heterosis” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.