mel·a·nism

[mel-uh-niz-uhm]
noun
1.
Ethnology. the condition in human beings of having a high amount of melanin granules in the skin, hair, and eyes.
2.
Zoology. the condition in which an unusually high concentration of melanin occurs in the skin, plumage, or pelage of an animal.

Origin:
1835–45; melan- + -ism

mel·a·nis·tic, adjective
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World English Dictionary
melanism (ˈmɛləˌnɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the condition in man and animals of having dark-coloured or black skin, feathers, etc. Industrial melanism is the occurrence of dark varieties of animals, esp moths, in smoke-blackened industrial regions, in which they are well camouflaged
2.  another name for melanosis
 
mela'nistic
 
adj

00:10
Melanism is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
melanosis or melanism (ˌmɛləˈnəʊsɪs, ˈmɛləˌnɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
pathol a skin condition characterized by excessive deposits of melanin
 
melanism or melanism
 
n
 
melanotic or melanism
 
adj

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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

melanism mel·a·nism (měl'ə-nĭz'əm)
n.

  1. See melanosis.

  2. Dark coloration of the skin, hair, fur, or feathers because of a high concentration of melanin.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
melanism   (měl'ə-nĭz'əm)  Pronunciation Key 
Dark coloration of the skin, hair, fur, or feathers because of a high concentration of melanin.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The gene involved in the origin of melanism in rock pocket mice is.
All that would be necessary at the fish market is to pick one scale from each flounder having melanism on the blind side.
As a reaction and antidote to white racism, melanism is understandable.
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