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phylogeny

[ fahy-loj-uh-nee ]
/ faɪˈlɒdʒ ə ni /
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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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RELATED WORDS

adaptation, evolution, Darwinism, evolutionism, Neo-Darwinism

Nearby words

  1. phylo-,
  2. phylogenesis,
  3. phylogenetic,
  4. phylogenetic classification,
  5. phylogenetics,
  6. phylon,
  7. phylum,
  8. phyma,
  9. phymatic,
  10. phymatosis
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
Related formsphy·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. 2019

Examples 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 Formsphylogenic (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

Word Origin and History for phylogeny

phylogeny

n.

"genesis and evolution of a phylum," 1869, from German Phylogenie, coined 1866 by German biologist Ernst Heinrich Haeckel (1834-1919) from Greek phylon "race" (see phylo-) + -geneia "origin," from -genes "born" (see genus). Related: Phylogenic.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine 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.
Related formsphy′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.

Science 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.