atavism

[ at-uh-viz-uhm ]

noun

1. Biology.
   1. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
   2. an individual embodying such a reversion.
2. reversion to an earlier type; throwback.

atavism

/ ˈætəˌvɪzəm; əˈtævɪk /

noun

1. the recurrence in a plant or animal of certain primitive characteristics that were present in an ancestor but have not occurred in intermediate generations
2. reversion to a former or more primitive type

Derived Forms

• atavic, adjective
• ˈatavist, noun

Other Words From

• ata·vist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of atavism¹

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin atav(us) “great-great-great grandfather; remote ancestor, forefather” ( at-, akin to atta familiar name for a grandfather, “grampa” + avus “grandfather, ancestor”) + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of atavism¹

C19: from French atavisme, from Latin atavus strictly: great-grandfather's grandfather, probably from atta daddy + avus grandfather

Example Sentences

Democrats treated patriotism as an unpleasant atavism that we need to get over.

From Salon

His atavism came with the weekend’s most polish.

From Slate

They think illiberal authoritarianism — “made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science,” to quote Winston Churchill — is the wave of the future, not an atavism from the past.

From Seattle Times

A fervent believer in atavism, he was particularly drawn to the fine-tuned measurement of the skull as an indicator of the savage proclivities of man.

From Salon

That a word we now perceive as benign would have such macabre origins is a reminder that we don’t live terribly far removed from superstition and atavism, either historically or psychologically.

From New York Times

Related Words

• backsliding
• relapse