asexual
adj. C1 Advanced Oxford US //eɪˈsɛksjuəɫ// UK //eɪsˈɛkʃuːəl// asex·u·al
adj. describing a living thing that can make offspring without a partner. You see this in some plants and simple animals like starfish.
adj. reproducing without the fusion of gametes; lack of sexual organs or activity. Often used in botanical or microbiological contexts.
Some plants use asexual reproduction to spread quickly.
Single-celled organisms like bacteria typically reproduce through asexual means by dividing into two identical cells.
In certain environmental conditions, some invertebrate species switch from sexual to asexual reproduction to maximize their population count without the need for a mate.
From a- (“lacking, without”) + -sexual.