homophyly

[ hoh-mof-uh-lee, hoh-muh-fil-ee, hom-uh- ]

/ hoʊˈmɒf ə li, ˈhoʊ məˌfɪl i, ˈhɒm ə- /

Save This Word!

noun, plural ho·moph·y·lies.

a resemblance due to common ancestry.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of homophyly

First recorded in 1880–85; from Greek homophylía “sameness of race or stock”; equivalent to homó-, stem of homós “one and the same” + phȳl(ē) “tribe” + -ía, noun suffix; see homo-, -ia

OTHER WORDS FROM homophyly

ho·mo·phyl·ic

[hoh-muh-fil-ik, hom-uh-], /ˌhoʊ məˈfɪl ɪk, ˌhɒm ə-/, adjective

Words nearby homophyly

homophone, homophones, homophonic, homophonous, homophony, homophyly, homoplastic, homoplasy, homoploid, homopolar, homopolymer

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

British Dictionary definitions for homophyly

homophyly

/ (hɒˈmɒfəlɪ) /

noun

resemblance due to common ancestry

Derived forms of homophyly

homophyllic (ˌhəʊməˈfɪlɪk, ˌhɒm-), adjective

Word Origin for homophyly

C19: from Greek, from homo- + phylum

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 homophyly

homophyly

[ hō′mə-fī′lē, hŏm′ə-, hō-mŏf′ə-lē ]

Resemblance arising from common ancestry.