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phylogeny

[ fahy-loj-uh-nee ]
/ faɪˈlɒdʒ ə ni /
See synonyms for: phylogeny / phylogenetic on Thesaurus.com

noun

the development or evolution of a particular group of organisms.
the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, especially as depicted in a family tree.

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Also phy·lo·gen·e·sis [fahy-luh-jen-uh-sis]. /ˌfaɪ ləˈdʒɛn ə sɪs/.
Compare ontogeny.

Origin of phylogeny

First recorded in 1865–70; phylo- + -geny

OTHER WORDS FROM phylogeny

phy·lo·ge·net·ic [fahy-luh-juh-net-ik], /ˌfaɪ lə dʒəˈnɛt ɪk/, phy·lo·ge·net·i·cal, phy·lo·gen·ic, adjectivephy·lo·ge·net·i·cal·ly, adverbphy·log·e·nist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to phylogeny

adaptation, evolution, survival of the fittest, artificial selection, evolutionism, law of the jungle, natural law, social evolution, natural selection, organic evolution, punctuated equilibrium

Example sentences from the Web for phylogeny

British Dictionary definitions for phylogeny

phylogeny

phylogenesis (ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs)

/ (faɪˈlɒdʒɪnɪ) /

noun plural -nies or -geneses (-ˈdʒɛnɪˌsiːz)

biology the sequence of events involved in the evolution of a species, genus, etcCompare ontogeny

Derived forms of phylogeny

phylogenic (ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪk) or phylogenetic (ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for phylogeny

C19: from phylo- + -geny
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

Medical definitions for phylogeny

phylogeny
[ fī-lŏj′ə-nē ]

n.

The evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms.phylogenesis
The evolutionary development of an organ or other part of an organism.

Other words from phylogeny

phy′lo•gen′ic (-jĕn′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for phylogeny

phylogeny
[ fī-lŏj′ə-nē ]

The evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.