teleonomy

US: (tel′ē on′ə mē, tē′lē-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tel•e•on•o•my  (tel′ē on′ə mē, tē′lē-), n. 

1. Biology the principle that the body's structures and functions serve an overall purpose, as in assuring the survival of the organism.

• 1955-60; teleo- + -nomy

tel•e•o•nom•ic  (tel ē ə nom′ik, tē′lē-), adj. 
tel•e•on•o•my  (tel′ē on′ə mē, tē′lē-), n. 

1. Biology the principle that the body's structures and functions serve an overall purpose, as in assuring the survival of the organism.

• 1955-60; teleo- + -nomy

tel•e•o•nom•ic  (tel′ē ə nom′ik, tē′lē-), adj.