Ma'anar ƙamus na phenotype shine:nounhalayen zahiri ko sinadarai na halitta, an ƙaddara ta duka kayan shafan kwayoyin halitta da tasirin muhalli. Bayyanar wata siffa ko sifa ta wata halitta, kamar yadda abubuwan halitta da muhalli suka rinjayi su. A cikin mafi sauƙi, phenotype yana nufin halaye na zahiri da ɗabi'a ko halayen halitta waɗanda za a iya gani ko auna su, kamar launin ido, tsayi, nauyi, da ɗabi'a. Wadannan dabi'un sune sakamakon mu'amala tsakanin kwayoyin halittar kwayoyin halitta (genotype) da muhallinta.