Word of the Day — May 3, 2026

homoplasy

/hom-O-plas-y/nounPush me

Definition

When different species evolve the same trait separately, without inheriting it from a common ancestor.

A correspondence between the parts or organs of different species acquired as the result of parallel evolution or convergence.

Memory Hook

HOMO (same) + PLASY (form/shape) = same shape from different paths. Like how both birds and bats evolved wings independently—same solution, different starting points.