aposematic

adjective

apo·se·mat·ic ˌa-pə-si-ˈma-tik

: being conspicuous and serving to warn

aposematic coloration in butterflies

aposematically

ˌa-pə-si-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Examples of aposematic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

By staying in a tight group, the nymphs increase the effectiveness of their striking defensive aposematic coloration to ward off would-be predators. Plants, Fungi And Landscapes During a visit to the Lossiny Ostrov National Park (Russia), Svetlana Ivanenko found several parasol mushrooms. —

Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Conspicuousness and toxicity of Coccinellidae: An aposematic review San Diego Zoo. —

Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024 The aposematic amphibians almost always evolve from species in the middle of that spectrum, those whose colors are shrouded unless in danger. —

Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2023 Indeed, vibrant patterns so often signal toxicity that biologists even have a special term for them: aposematic coloration. —

Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2018 The minute creatures are vibrantly colored and speckled (a phenomena called aposematic coloration) in order to deter predators from eating them. —

Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 26 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

apo- + Greek sēmat-, sêma "sign, signal" + -ic entry 1 — more at semantic

Note: The term was introduced by the British biologist Edward Bagnall Poulton (1856-1943) in The Colours of Animals (London, 1890), p. 337: "The second head (Sematic Colours) includes Warning Colours and Recognition Markings: the former warn an enemy off, and are therefore called Aposematic; the latter assist an individual of the same species, and are termed Episematic."

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of aposematic was in 1890

See more words from the same year