atavism
What does "atavism" mean?
Atavism refers to the reappearance of a trait, behavior, or characteristic that was present in distant ancestors but has been absent for generations. Imagine a family line where everyone has dark eyes, but suddenly a child is born with bright blue eyes like a great-great-grandfather; that sudden "throwback" to the past is an atavism. In a figurative sense, it is often used to describe a sudden return to primitive or savage instincts that seem to have been "civilized" away. It carries a slightly intellectual or clinical weight and is most commonly used in academic, psychological, or literary contexts to discuss human nature or evolutionary biology.
"atavism" in conversation
Discussing a sudden outburst
I couldn't believe he started throwing chairs during the meeting.
I couldn't believe he started throwing chairs during the meeting.
It was pure atavism. He just completely lost his grip on modern decorum.
It was pure atavism. He just completely lost his grip on modern decorum.
Used here to describe a regressive, primal reaction.
Biology class
The whale's vestigial pelvic bones are a classic example of an atavism.
The whale's vestigial pelvic bones are a classic example of an atavism.
So it's like a ghost of their land-dwelling past?
So it's like a ghost of their land-dwelling past?
Used in the scientific sense of evolutionary biology.
"atavism" in a sentence
The sudden flare of violence in the mild-mannered man felt like a disturbing atavism.
The sudden flare of violence in the mild-mannered man felt like a disturbing atavism.
His artistic style was an atavism, harkening back to the crude sketches of early cave dwellers.
His artistic style was an atavism, harkening back to the crude sketches of early cave dwellers.
The theory suggests that such behavioral patterns are atavisms from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
The theory suggests that such behavioral patterns are atavisms from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
