# polymorphism

/ˌpɑˌɫiˈmɔɹfɪzm/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/polymorphism
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. general ability to change form

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the ability of something to have or take many different forms or shapes.

For teachers: the general capacity of an entity or concept to assume different forms, appearances, or structures.

- The artist was fascinated by the polymorphism of the clouds as they shifted in the wind.
- The inherent polymorphism of the myth allows it to be adapted across vastly different cultures without losing its core narrative power.

### 2. programming and data

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way of writing code where one command can work with different types of data.

For teachers: a programming language feature that allows values of different data types to be handled through a uniform interface.

- Using polymorphism, the program can print both text and images using the same function.
- By implementing polymorphism, the developers ensured that the 'draw' method could be applied to any shape object regardless of its specific class.

Usage: Often used in the context of 'object-oriented programming' (OOP).

### 3. biology and genetics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when two or more clearly different body types or genes exist in the same species.

For teachers: the occurrence of two or more clearly different phenotypes or genotypes within the same population of a species.

- The different wing patterns on the same type of butterfly are a great example of polymorphism.
- Researchers studied the genetic polymorphism within the colony to understand how certain individuals survived the viral outbreak while others did not.

### 4. chemistry and materials

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one crystal structure.

For teachers: the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure while remaining the same chemical compound.

- Carbon shows polymorphism because it can exist as both soft graphite and hard diamond.
- The pharmaceutical company had to carefully control the polymorphism of the drug, as different crystal forms could affect how fast the medicine dissolved.

## Examples

- The different colors of these butterflies are an example of polymorphism.
- In object-oriented programming, polymorphism allows a single function to behave differently depending on the class of the object it is called upon.
- Genetic polymorphism within a population provides the raw material for natural selection, allowing species to adapt to shifting environmental pressures over successive generations.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.