phyletic

[fahy-let-ik]

See more synonyms for phyletic on Thesaurus.com

adjective Biology.

of, relating to, or based on the evolutionary history of a group of organisms; phylogenetic.

Origin of phyletic

1880–85; Greek phȳletikós pertaining to a tribesman, equivalent to phȳlét(ēs) tribesman (derivative of phȳ́lē phyle) + -ikos -ic

Related formsphy·let·i·cal·ly, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for phyletic

genetic, national, tribal, ancestral, folk, hereditary, genealogical, lineal, phyletic, phylogenetic

Examples from the Web for phyletic

Historical Examples of phyletic

This is true of both branches of evolution, individual and phyletic.
The Wonders of Life
Ernst Haeckel
The frogs in this phyletic line retained the moderate size of the prototype and did not develop additional dermal bone.
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
William E. Duellman
This phyletic line retained the larval characters and breeding call of the prototype.
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
William E. Duellman
All can be interpreted as embryonic survivals rather than as phyletic contractions.
A Critique of the Theory of Evolution
Thomas Hunt Morgan
The trend of phyletic development in the dipodomyines has been toward the saltatorial habit.
Speciation in the Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii
Henry W. Setzer

British Dictionary definitions for phyletic

phyletic

phylogenetic (ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk)

adjective

of or relating to the evolution of a species or group of organisms

Derived Formsphyletically or phylogenetically, adverb

Word Origin for phyletic

C19: from Greek phuletikos tribal

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

Word Origin and History for phyletic

adj.

"racial, pertaining to race," 1873, probably coined in German from Greek phyletikos "of one's tribe," from phyletes "fellow tribesman," from phyle (see phylo-).