mosaicism

noun

mo·​sa·​i·​cism mō-ˈzā-ə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce mosaicism (audio)
: the condition of possessing cells of two or more different genetic constitutions

Examples of mosaicism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most of the edited embryos also showed mosaicism, in which genomes vary from cell to cell. — Laura Dattaro, Scientific American, 10 June 2026 Less common types of Down syndrome are translocation and mosaicism. — Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 8 Oct. 2023 Those who showed any other chromosomes, or a mosaicism of chromosomes, were at times advised to fake a last-minute injury and to quietly retire from sports. — S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2023 From this work and other studies, scientists have linked brain mosaicism to neurological diseases including autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia. — Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mosaicism

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mosaicism was in 1920

Rhymes for mosaicism

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Browse Nearby Words

mosaic inheritance
mosaicism
mosaicist
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Cite this Entry

“Mosaicism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosaicism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

mosaicism

noun
mo·​sa·​i·​cism mō-ˈzā-ə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce mosaicism (audio)
: the condition of possessing cells of two or more different genetic constitutions

More from Merriam-Webster on mosaicism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mosaicism

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