apomorphy

[ ap-uh-mawr-fee ]

noun

1. Biology, Taxonomy. a novel, specialized, unique evolutionary trait that can be taken as definitive of a group or species and its descendants:

   Speech is the trait often considered the apomorphy that unifies humans.

Other Words From

• ap·o·mor·phic [ap-, uh, -, mawr, -feek], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apomorphy¹

First recorded in 1965–70; apo- ( def ) + -morph ( def ) + -y ³( def )