Phrase guide

Müllerian mimicry

noun · 1 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The resemblance of two or more poisonous species to each other (for example, the monarch butterfly and the viceroy butterfly), making them all more recognisable to potential predators.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Qualifier: evolutionary theory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Named after German naturalist Fritz Müller.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 繆氏擬態 /缪氏拟态 (móushìnǐtài) — resemblance of two or more poisonous species to each other
  • Finnish: Müllerin mimikry — resemblance of two or more poisonous species to each other
  • French: mimétisme mullérien — resemblance of two or more poisonous species to each other
  • Portuguese: mimetismo mülleriano — resemblance of two or more poisonous species to each other