Weismannism

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈvaɪsmənˌɪzəm/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(vīs′män iz′əm)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Weis•mann•ism  (vīs′män iz′əm),USA pronunciation n. [Biol.]
  1. the theories of heredity as expounded by Weismann, esp. the theory that all inheritable characteristics are carried in the germ plasm, and that acquired characteristics cannot be inherited.
  • Weismann + -ism 1890–95
Weis′mann•i•an, adj., n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Weismannism /ˈvaɪsmənˌɪzəm/ n
  1. the doctrine of the continuity of the germ plasm. This theory of heredity states that all inheritable characteristics are transmitted by the reproductive cells and that characteristics acquired during the lifetime of the organism are not inherited
Etymology: 19th Century: named after August Weismann (1834–1914), German biologist

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