Added 9 October 2026
homologous
/həˈmɒləɡəs/ adjective
Latin root: homologus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about homologous at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Having the same evolutionary origin but not necessarily the same function.
the wing of a bat and the arm of a man are homologous
-
Corresponding or similar in position or structure or function or characteristics; especially derived from an organism of the same species.
a homologous tissue graft
Origin
From Late Latin homologus, from Ancient Greek ὁμόλογος (homólogos, “agreeing, of one mind”), from ὁμός (homós, “same”) + λόγος (lógos, “reason, reckoning”). Compare homo- (“same”) and -ous (adjectival suffix). From 1655, in the mathematical sense. See also homolog, homologue.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)