diploid

1 of 2

adjective

dip·​loid ˈdi-ˌplȯid 

: having or involving two sets of homologous chromosomes

diploid somatic cells

In land plants, genome size increased by leaps and bounds after the diploid generation became dominant in the life cycle.

—Yin-Long Qui et al.

compare haploid

diploidy

ˈdi-ˌplȯi-dē 

noun

plural diploidies

diploid

2 of 2

noun

plural diploids

: a single cell, individual, or generation characterized by two complete sets of chromosomes

In genetic terms, the majority of wild tulips are diploids, with twenty-four chromosomes marching in harmony.

—Anna Pavord

Examples of diploid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Lind assures that there will always be a need for diploid cannabis because a parent plant is required to produce triploid plants. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024

Clones simply split in two or bud to generate identical copies of themselves, or produce self-sufficient diploid eggs that don’t require fertilization by sperm. —Joann C Gutin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

The number of chromosomes, whether the organism is diploid, the variations in the rate of recombination. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2011

Amictic in this context means individuals who produce diploid eggs which can not be fertilized. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2010

The mathematics of this is exceedingly simple, a consequence of the Hardy-Weinberg dynamics of diploid random mating organisms. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2012

Genomicists think that the ancestors of sturgeons were diploid until all their chromosomes doubled and the fish became tetraploid. —Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2020

So farmers plant sterile triploid plants along with diploid plants. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2020

This means humans are diploid, or contain two full sets of chromosomes. —Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 16 Jan. 2020

Noun

Therefore, triploid genetics won't eliminate diploids, as triploids are unsuitable for breeding. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024

In another form of parthenogenesis, apomixis, reproductive cells replicate via mitosis, a process in which the cell duplicates to create two diploid cells—a kind of genetic copy-and-paste. —Corryn Wetzel, National Geographic, 25 Aug. 2020

The triploids can’t self-pollinate (because their pollen is not viable) but bees can carry the viable diploid pollen to the triploid flowers to complete fertilization. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

Adjective

1907, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diploid

• triploid

Medical Definition

diploid

1 of 2 adjective

dip·​loid ˈdip-ˌlȯid 

: having the basic chromosome number doubled

diploidy

-ˌlȯid-ē 

noun

plural diploidies

diploid

2 of 2 noun

: a single cell, individual, or generation characterized by the diploid chromosome number