Biology. The retention of juvenile characteristics in a species as an evolutionary phenomenon; neoteny, paedomorphosis. Frequently attributive Now chiefly historical.
Origin
Early 19th century (in an earlier sense). From fetal + -ization.
Definition of fetalization in US English:
fetalization
nounˌfiːt(ə)lʌɪˈzeɪʃn
Biology. The retention of juvenile characteristics in a species as an evolutionary phenomenon; neoteny, paedomorphosis. Frequently attributive Now chiefly historical.
Origin
Early 19th century (in an earlier sense). From fetal + -ization.