phylogeny

[ fahy-loj-uh-nee ]

See synonyms for phylogeny on Thesaurus.com

noun

the development or evolution of a particular group of organisms.
the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, especially as depicted in a family tree.

Origin of phylogeny

First recorded in 1865–70; phylo- + -geny

Also phy·lo·gen·e·sis [fahy-luh-jen-uh-sis]. /ˌfaɪ ləˈdʒɛn ə sɪs/.

Other words from phylogeny

phy·lo·ge·net·ic [fahy-luh-juh-net-ik], /ˌfaɪ lə dʒəˈnɛt ɪk/, phy·lo·ge·net·i·cal, phy·lo·gen·ic, adjective
phy·lo·ge·net·i·cal·ly, adverb
phy·log·e·nist, noun

Compare ontogeny.

Words Nearby phylogeny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use phylogeny in a sentence

It is expressed by the formula of Herbert Spencer, "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny."
Education: How Old The New | James J. Walsh
These problems may be divided into two main groups, technically known as those of phylogeny and those of organogeny.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
From the point of view of phylogeny, the animal kingdom is, therefore, clearly much younger than the plant kingdom.
The Wonders of Life | Ernst Haeckel
The three most valuable sources of evidence in phylogeny are paleontology, comparative anatomy, and ontogeny.
The Wonders of Life | Ernst Haeckel
Scientific and thorough proof of this will be found in the three volumes of my Systematic phylogeny .
The Wonders of Life | Ernst Haeckel

British Dictionary definitions for phylogeny

phylogeny

phylogenesis (ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs)

/ (faɪˈlɒdʒɪnɪ) /

nounplural -nies or -geneses (-ˈdʒɛnɪˌsiːz)

biology the sequence of events involved in the evolution of a species, genus, etc: Compare ontogeny

Origin of phylogeny

C19: from phylo- + -geny

Derived forms of phylogeny

phylogenic (ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪk) or phylogenetic (ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for phylogeny

phylogeny

[ fī-lŏj′ə-nē ]

The evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms.

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