noun

polymorphism

/ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm/ · say it: pol·ih·MOR·fiz·um

the ability of code to take many forms or types

In Technology & Computing

In more detail

1. (noun) the quality or state of existing in many different forms or types

2. (noun) in biology, the occurrence of different forms of a trait or appearance among individuals of the same species

3. (noun) in computing, the ability of a program to work with different types of data or objects in a unified way

Examples

1. The polymorphism of the butterfly species is visible in the variety of wing colors.
2. Genetic polymorphism explains why people have different blood types.
3. The programmer used polymorphism to write code that could handle multiple data types.

How to use polymorphism

Polymorphism is a technical term used in biology, genetics, computer science, and mathematics to describe the existence of multiple distinct forms or types within a system. In biological contexts, it typically refers to variation in physical traits or genetic sequences within a population. In computing, it denotes a core principle allowing functions or methods to operate on different data types. The term is formal and appears primarily in specialized or academic discourse.

Common phrases

genetic polymorphism
polymorphism in programming
balanced polymorphism
display polymorphism
morphological polymorphism
allelic polymorphism

Synonyms

multiformity · diversity · variation · heterogeneity · variability

Opposites

uniformity · homogeneity

Word family

polymorphic · polymorphously · polymorphous

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse polymorphism with simple variation; polymorphism specifically refers to multiple stable forms that persist in a population, not merely random individual differences.

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