Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

haploid

adjective

ˈhæp.lɔɪd

Definition

An organism or cell that has a single set of unpaired chromosomes.

Examples

Human gametes are haploid cells, meaning they have 23 chromosomes.
The gametes produced during meiosis are haploid, allowing for genetic variation.

Meaning

In biology, the term haploid refers to cells that contain half the number of chromosomes that are typically found in somatic cells of an organism, which is known as the diploid number. Haploid cells are crucial for sexual reproduction as they combine with another haploid cell to form a diploid zygote.