Standard Lemma guide

epigenetics

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌɛpɪd͡ʒəˈnɛtɪks/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The study of the processes involved in the genetic development of an organism, especially the activation and deactivation of genes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: biology, genetics, medicine, natural-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The study of heritable changes caused by the activation and deactivation of genes without any change in DNA sequence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: biology, genetics, medicine, natural-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of epigenesis + genetics; coined by C. H. Waddington in 1942.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 表觀遺傳學 /表观遗传学 (biǎoguān yíchuánxué) — study of processes
  • Dutch: epigenetica — study of processes
  • French: épigénétique — study of processes
  • German: Epigenetik — study of processes
  • Hungarian: epigenetika — study of processes
  • Irish: eipigéineolaíocht — study of processes
  • Italian: epigenetica — study of processes
  • Japanese: エピジェネティクス (epijenetikusu) — study of processes
  • Japanese: 後生学 (kōseigaku) — study of processes
  • Polish: epigenetyka — study of processes
  • Portuguese: epigenética — study of processes
  • Russian: эпигенетика (epigenetika) — study of processes
  • Spanish: epigenética — study of processes
  • Swedish: epigenetik — study of processes
  • Ukrainian: епігенетика (epihenetyka) — study of processes
  • Dutch: epigenetica — study of heritable changes
  • French: épigénétique — study of heritable changes
  • German: Epigenetik — study of heritable changes
  • Hungarian: epigenetika — study of heritable changes
  • Irish: eipigéineolaíocht — study of heritable changes
  • Italian: epigenetica — study of heritable changes
  • Japanese: エピジェネティクス (epijenetikusu) — study of heritable changes
  • Japanese: 後生学 (kōseigaku) — study of heritable changes
  • Polish: epigenetyka — study of heritable changes
  • Portuguese: epigenética — study of heritable changes
  • Russian: эпигенетика (epigenetika) — study of heritable changes
  • Spanish: epigenética — study of heritable changes
  • Swedish: epigenetik — study of heritable changes
  • Ukrainian: епігенетика (epihenetyka) — study of heritable changes