Atavism
7 lettersnounrareUpdated June 2026
Definition
The reappearance in an organism of a characteristic absent in recent ancestors but present in more distant ones.
“The baby's extra toes were thought to be an example of atavism, echoing a trait seen in distant ancestors.”
Pronunciation
Syllables
at·a·vism
Related Words
Synonyms
Word Game Tips
Wordle
The AV cluster is uncommon, the -ISM ending signals a concept or tendency
Scrabble
The V scores four points and the -ISM suffix is a reliable way to use the M tile
Words Related to Atavism
Words one letter different
Change a single letter of “atavism” to make these 7-letter words — useful for Wordle and crossword clues.
Explore Similar Words
Try These Tools
Dictionary References
Look up atavism in an authoritative dictionary for full definitions, pronunciation, and etymology.
Ready to test your word skills?
Download Word Challenge for unlimited word puzzles, a fresh Daily Challenge, and head-to-head multiplayer. Guess the hidden word in six tries or fewer!