allotype

[ al-uh-tahyp ]

noun

1. Biology. a type specimen of the sex opposite to that of the holotype.
2. Immunology. an antibody of a given class having certain molecular sites shared by only some members of a species and therefore acting as an antigen to other members of the same species.

allotype

/ ˈæləˌtaɪp /

noun

1. biology an additional type specimen selected because of differences from the original type specimen, such as opposite sex or morphological details
2. immunol any of the variant forms of a particular immunoglobulin found among members of the same species

Other Words From

• al·lo·typ·ic [al-, uh, -, tip, -ik], adjective
• allo·typi·cal·ly adverb
• al·lo·typ·y [al, -, uh, -tahy-pee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allotype¹

1915–20; allo- + type; in immunological sense, probably back formation from allotypy < French allotypie, coined in 1956