Batesian

adjective

Bates·​ian ˈbāt-sē-ən How to pronounce Batesian (audio)
: characterized by or being mimicry involving resemblance of an innocuous species to another that is protected from predators by repellent qualities (such as unpalatability)
a Batesian mimic

Examples of Batesian 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.
In Ecology this week, the team reports that the chick’s strange appearance may be a case of Batesian mimicry, in which a harmless animal tries to ward off predators by resembling a different, more dangerous species. Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Henry Walter Bates †1892 English naturalist

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Batesian was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Batesian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Batesian. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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