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'''Heterogamy''' is a term derived from combining the Greek word ''heteros'' meaning ("different") and ''gamos'' meaning ("marriage"). This term has three meanings one for biology, one for botany and one for social science.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Heterogamy|url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/heterogamy_n?tl=true|access-date=2026-04-01|website=Oxford English dictionary}}</ref>
==Science== ===Biology=== In biology, heterogamy is sexual reproduction in which two types of gametes fuse, these gametes are usually of varying sizes, forms, and biological functions.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Definition of Heterogamy|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterogamy|access-date=2026-04-01|website=merriam-webster.com|language=en}}</ref> This type of heterogamy occurs for example in some aphids. Alternately, ''heterogamy'' or ''heterogamous'' is often used as a synonym of heterogametic, meaning the presence of two unlike chromosomes in a sex.<ref name="Lokki">{{Cite journal| volume = 79| issue = 3| pages = 513–525| last = Lokki| first = Juhani|author2=Esko Suomalainen |author3=Anssi Saura |author4=Pekka Lankinen | title = Genetic Polymorphism and Evolution in Parthenogenetic Animals. Ii. Diploid and Polyploid Solenobia Triquetrella (lepidoptera: Psychidae)| journal = Genetics| access-date = 2011-12-20| date = 1975-03-01| doi = 10.1093/genetics/79.3.513| pmid = 1126629| url =http://www.genetics.org/content/79/3/513.abstract| pmc = 1213290}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1098/rspb.2004.2769 | issn = 0962-8452| volume = 271 | issue = 1549 | pages = 1751–1755 | last = Hiroki| first = Masato|author2=Yohsuke Tagami | author3=Kazuki Miura |author4=Yoshiomi Kato | title = Multiple infection with Wolbachia inducing different reproductive manipulations in the butterfly Eurema hecabe.| journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences| date = 2004-08-22 | pmid=15306297 | pmc=1691781}}.</ref>
===Botany===
In botany, a plant is heterogamous when it carries at least two different types of flowers in regard to their reproductive structures, for example male and female flowers or bisexual and female flowers. Stamens and carpels are not regularly present in each flower or floret.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Heterogamy - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary|url=https://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/heterogamy|access-date=2026-04-01|website=dictionary.reverso.net|language=en}}</ref>
==Social science==
In sociology, heterogamy refers to a marriage between two individuals from different social, racial, age, gender or ethnic groups.<ref name=":2" /> For instance, ethnic heterogamy involves partners that come from different ethnic backgrounds, while age heterogamy describes a relationship with a notable age gap between two individuals. more broadly heterogamy refers to a union of people who differ in certain characteristics.{{Wiktionary|heterogamy}} * Heterogametic * Homogametic
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Plant reproduction Category:Genetics Category:Exogamy “Merriam-Webster Dictionary.” ''Merriam-Webster.com'', 2026, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterogamy.<ref name=":1" />
“Heterogamy, N. Meanings, Etymology and More | Oxford English Dictionary.” ''Oed.com'', 2025, www.oed.com/dictionary/heterogamy_n?tl=true&tab=factsheet, <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1093//OED//6247091271</nowiki>.<ref name=":0" />
“HETEROGAMY - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary.” ''Reverso.net'', 2026, dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/heterogamy.<ref name=":2" />
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