ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

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.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Sự phát triển của mỗi cá nhân đi qua các giai đoạn tương tự như loài, xã hội hoặc nền văn minh của họ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common 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.

Is “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.