allele

noun

al·​lele ə-ˈlēl 

1

: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus (see locus sense 3)

2

: either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (see character entry 1 sense 1b(3)) (such as smooth and wrinkled seed in the pea)

allelic

ə-ˈlē-lik 

-ˈle-

adjective

allelism

ə-ˈlē-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈle-

noun

Examples of allele in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, the study found a higher prevalence of the APOE4 allele (30.8%) in participants, compared to the typical 20–25% seen in the general population, Chin said. —Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2025

At that age, those with no copies of the allele had a 39 percent lifetime risk. —Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2025

Groups that showed greater lifetime risks (between 44 and 59 percent after age 55) were Black adults, women and people who carried the allele e4: this variation of the gene which codes for the protein apolipoprotein E, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. —Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2025

Analysis of ancient and modern human genomes, along with those of our closest relatives, revealed a common haplotype, or group of alleles (different forms of a gene), inherited together from one parent. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps as back-formation from allelism, from allel- (in allelomorph) + -ism

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing allele

• multiple allele

Kids Definition

allele

noun

al·​lele ə-ˈlē(ə)l 

: one of several forms of a gene that determine alternate forms of one or more genetic traits and occupy identical places on two chromosomes having the same genes arranged in the same order

allelic

-ˈlē-lik 

-ˈlel-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

allele

noun

al·​lele ə-ˈlē(ə)l 

1

: any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus

2

: either of a pair of alternative Mendelian characters (as ability versus inability to taste the chemical phenylthiocarbamide)

allelic

-ˈlē-lik  -ˈlel-ik 

adjective

allelism

-ˈlē(ə)l-ˌiz-əm  -ˈlel-ˌiz- 

noun