1. The quality or condition of occurring in multiple distinct forms or shapes, especially in biology when an organism or cell exhibits different morphologies at different life stages or under different conditions.
Usage: technical; biology; plural form of pleomorphism
2. In microbiology, the property of certain bacteria or fungi to assume different shapes and sizes during their life cycle.
Usage: technical; microbiology; plural form of pleomorphism

Examples

• The pleomorphisms observed in the bacterial culture suggested multiple developmental stages.
• Researchers documented several pleomorphisms in the fungal species under varying nutrient conditions.
• The study examined pleomorphisms across different environmental temperatures.
• Pleomorphisms in cell morphology can complicate bacterial identification.
• These pleomorphisms are characteristic of certain pathogenic organisms.