allele

noun

al·​lele ə-ˈlēl How to pronounce allele (audio)
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 adjective
allelism noun

Examples of allele 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.
Notably, the bitter sensitive alleles were also nominally associated with chronic kidney diseases and a range of markers of kidney health, including urinary proline betaine levels, glomerular filtration rate, serum non-albumin protein, and glucose levels 2 h after an oral glucose challenge. Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 15 June 2025 This loss is often accelerated by human activities and can occur at various levels, including the reduction of individual genes, allele frequencies, and entire populations or varieties. Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 The cognitive and neurodegenerative changes were greater for participants who carried the APOE-e4 allele, which is a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 15 May 2025 Presumably this allele offered some as yet unknown protective effect that outweighed its attendant risk of celiac disease. Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for allele

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of allele was in 1921

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Cite this Entry

“Allele.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allele. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

allele

noun
al·​lele ə-ˈlē(ə)l How to pronounce allele (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce allele (audio)
-ˈlel-ik
adjective

Medical Definition

allele

noun
al·​lele ə-ˈlē(ə)l How to pronounce allele (audio)
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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on allele

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