Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, producing gametes or spores with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Synonyms for meiotic include reductional division, germ cell division, haploidization, and gametogenesis. Reductional division refers to the halving of the number of chromosomes. Germ cell division emphasizes that meiosis occurs in special cells that produce gametes, or germ cells. Haploidization describes the creation of haploid cells, which have only one set of chromosomes. Finally, gametogenesis denotes the production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells that unite during fertilization. Overall, these synonyms help to clarify the specific aspects of meiosis and its role in sexual reproduction.