Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.48 in modern English

Syllables: on-togeny re-ca-pit-u-lates -phy-loge-ny
IPA

50

Scrabble Score

30

Letters

9

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.

Example Sentences

"With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve."
"Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child."
"For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality."

Etymology

Reportedly coined by zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919).

Frequently Paired Words

recapitulationism

Questions

What does ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny mean?: The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization. Not taken literally since the late 19th century.
Where does ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny come from?: Reportedly coined by zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919).

How to pronounce ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

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