Definition of atavism

• n. - The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.
• n. - The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.
• n. - The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.
• n. - The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two.