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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/ˌtɛliˈɒnəmi/
rhymes with -ɒnəmi
1
noun
Meaning 1
The quality of living organisms of seeming to be organized towards the attainment of an end.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Qualifier: evolutionary theory
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From teleo- + -nomy. Coined by biologist Colin Pittendrigh in 1958, who wanted to limit the much older term "teleology" to actions planned by an agent who can internally model alternative futures with intention, purpose and foresight.
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
目的性
(mùdìxìng)
— quality of living organisms