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Glite Dictionary
oligodactyly

oligodactyly

9.9
A condition at birth in which some fingers or toes are missing
  • noun
  • /ˌɑlɪɡəˈdæktəli/
  • Specialized
: oligodactilia
  • The doctor diagnosed the newborn with oligodactyly, noting that she was missing two fingers on her left hand.

Examples

  • The doctor diagnosed the newborn with oligodactyly affecting her left hand.

  • Cases of oligodactyly are often detected during routine prenatal scans.

  • He became an advocate for children born with oligodactyly after his daughter was diagnosed.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with oligodactyly at birth.

  • Children with oligodactyly often need special assistance.

  • Children with oligodactyly may require surgery to improve hand function as they grow older.

  • After the birth of her son with oligodactyly, she joined a support group for parents of children with similar conditions.

Synonyms

ectrodactyly
vsoligodactyly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A birth condition in which some fingers or toes are missing

is the same condition but the term is formed differently
adactylia
vsoligodactyly
  • Specialized
9.9

A birth condition in which a person has no fingers or toes

is the same condition but the term appears with a different suffix
adactylism
vsoligodactyly
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition where a person is born without fingers or toes

is the same condition but the term appears with a different suffix
adactyly
vsoligodactyly
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition when a person is born missing fingers or toes

is the same condition but uses an alternate term form

Surface Forms

oligodactyly singular
oligodactylies plural

Morphology

oligodactyly = oligodactyl (opaque) = oligo + dactyl + oligo + y

Built from technical Greek combining forms ('oligo-' = few, 'dactyl-' = finger) plus '-y'; these elements are not readily recognized by an average B1 learner, so the meaning is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Oligodactyly comes from Greek parts oligo- meaning 'few' and dactyl meaning 'finger', a root you can also see in pterodactyl. So oligodactyly literally means 'few fingers' and helps you remember it describes being born with missing fingers or toes.