Atavism

Definition:

  • (n.) The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.
  • (n.) The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.

Compare atavism with other words:

atavism vs. primitivism

atavism vs. throwback

atavism vs. style

atavism vs. method

absence vs. atavism

atavism vs. behaviour

atavism vs. generation

atavism vs. organism

atavism vs. characteristic

ancestral vs. atavism

atavism vs. reappearance