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The combining form -gony is used like a suffix meaning “production,” “genesis,” or “origination.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form -gony ultimately comes from Greek ��ó��os, meaning “seed, generation.”

An example of a scientific term that features the form -gony is heterogony, “the alternation of dioecious and hermaphroditic individuals in successive generations, as in certain nematodes.” If that sounds overly technical, breaking down the word will give a clearer understanding of the meaning.

The form hetero- might look familiar; it means “different” or “other,” from Greek ��é�ٱ���Dz�. The form -gony means “production” or “origination,” as we have seen. Heterogony literally translates to “different productions.”

What are some words that use the combining form -gony?

• cosmogony (using the equivalent form of -gony in Greek)
• merogony
• schizogony
• sporogony
• telegony

What are some other forms that -gony may be commonly confused with?

• -gamy
• -gon
• -gonium

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -gony, such as jargony or agony, is necessarily using the combining form -gony to denote “production.” Learn why agony means “pain” at our entry for the word.

The combining form cosmo- means “universe.” With this in mind, what does cosmogony literally mean?