GeezerVison is showing www.dictionary.com — GENETICS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

genetics

American

[juh-net-iks] / dʒəˈnɛt ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

genetics
plural

Biology. the science of heredity, dealing with resemblances and differences of related organisms resulting from the interaction of their genes and the environment.
the genetic properties and phenomena of an organism.

genetics British

/ dʒɪˈnɛtɪks /

noun

(functioning as singular) the branch of biology concerned with the study of heredity and variation in organisms
the genetic features and constitution of a single organism, species, or group

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

genetics Scientific

/ jə-nĕt′ĭks /

The scientific study of the principles of heredity and the variation of inherited traits among related organisms.

genetics Cultural

The study of heredity, or how the characteristics of living things are transmitted from one generation to the next. Every living thing contains the genetic material that makes up DNA molecules. This material is passed on when organisms reproduce. The basic unit of heredity is the gene. (See chromosomes; dominant trait; genetic code; Gregor Mendel; recessive trait; and sexual reproduction.)

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

genetics

plural

Etymology

Origin of genetics

First recorded in 1905; see genetic, -ics; term first proposed in this sense by British biologist William Bateson (1861–1926)

Compare meaning

How does genetics compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

heredity vs. genetics

Explanation

Genetics is the study of the traits people and other animals inherit from their family through DNA. Compare the size of your nose to your father's and you are dealing with genetics — but only if he's your biological father. Genetics involves studying genes — DNA — to look at how organisms evolve and are related. Scientists use genetics to prove whether genes for things like depression or intelligence exist. One of the most commonly discussed examples of genetics is what determines if a man will lose his hair: oddly, men inherit the baldness gene from their mothers, not their fathers.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing genetics

Genetics - Middle School

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Speak

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Genetics - High School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

genetics

"I think the work that they're doing has been quite valuable," said Nadav Brandes, a genetics researcher also at EA Global, referring to AI safety.

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

This suggests that rapamycin may have particular potential for people whose genetics place them at greater risk of Alzheimer's.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

Having a sibling or parent who has been diagnosed with blood clots can raise someone’s risk, but more than often than not the cause of blood clots has nothing to do with genetics.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

She said an "explosion" in short-sightedness "cannot be put down to genetics alone".

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

These fairs often contained “Mendel booths,” where the principles of genetics and the laws of inheritance were demonstrated using puppets.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023