Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

atavistically

adverb

/ˌætəˈvɪstɪkli/

Definition

In a manner that is characteristic of an ancestral trait or behavior, often emerging after a period of dormancy.

Examples

The animal behaved atavistically, displaying instincts that hadn’t been observed for generations.
In her artwork, she drew atavistically, channeling the styles of ancient civilizations.

Meaning

Referring to a reversion to an earlier or ancestral type, especially in terms of traits or behaviors that are not normally present in the current generation.