homophyly

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

noun

plural

homophylies 

1. a resemblance due to common ancestry.

homophyly

/ hɒˈmɒfəlɪ, ˌhəʊməˈfɪlɪk, ˌhɒm- /

noun

1. resemblance due to common ancestry

homophyly

1. Resemblance arising from common ancestry.

Other Word Forms

• homophyllic adjective
• homophylic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophyly¹

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- ( def. ), -ia ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of homophyly¹

C19: from Greek, from _homo- + _phylum