definitions

phyletic

[ fahy-let-ik ]
/ faɪˈlɛt ɪk /
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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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

phylactery, phylactic, phylakopi, phylaxis, phyle, phyletic, phyletics, phyll-, phyllary, phyllid, phyllis

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for phyletic

British Dictionary definitions for phyletic

phyletic

phylogenetic (ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk)

/ (faɪˈlɛtɪk) /

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

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-).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper