gametophyte

noun

ga·​me·​to·​phyte gə-ˈmē-tə-ˌfīt How to pronounce gametophyte (audio)
plural gametophytes
: the haploid, multicellular, sexual reproductive stage in plants and algae that develops from spores and that gives rise to the male and female gametes which unite during fertilization to form the zygote

Note: In plants, both the gametophyte and sporophyte stages are present on one plant, but one of the stages will be greatly reduced or only present seasonally.

Angiosperm plants produce flowers, very beautiful and intricate structures, within which their reproductive development takes place. … The flower contains specialized structures, the anthers and the pistil or gynoecium, in which the male and female gametophytes, respectively, are formed.Joseph P. Mascarenhas
Mosses exist in two distinct generations—the green, leafy gametophyte (the familiar green phase) and the wiry and leafless sporophyte …Drew Monkman
compare sporophyte
gametophytic adjective
gametophytic phase of plant development

Examples of gametophyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nowellia curvifolia (leafy liverwort) gametophyte, berberine stained. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2014

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gametophyte.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

gameto- + -phyte (after sporophyte)

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gametophyte was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near gametophyte

Cite this Entry

“Gametophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gametophyte. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gametophyte

noun
ga·​me·​to·​phyte gə-ˈmēt-ə-ˌfīt How to pronounce gametophyte (audio)
: the individual or generation of plants or fungi with alternating sexual and asexual generations that produces gametes compare sporophyte
gametophytic adjective

Medical Definition

gametophyte

noun
ga·​me·​to·​phyte gə-ˈmēt-ə-ˌfīt How to pronounce gametophyte (audio)
: the individual or generation of a plant exhibiting alternation of generations that bears sex organs compare sporophyte
gametophytic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gametophyte

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!