phylogeny
Americannoun
-
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.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phylogeny
Explanation
Use the noun phylogeny to describe the branch of biology that focuses on evolution and the differences between species. You're most likely to come across the word phylogeny in a biology class. It's another term for "phylogenetics," the study of evolution, diversity, and the way different organisms and species are related to each other. The German biologist Ernst Heinrich Haeckel was the first to use the word phylogeny, in 1866, and Darwin used it soon after. It combines the Greek phylos, "race," with geneia, "origin."
Vocabulary lists containing phylogeny
Evolutionary Biology - High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Evolutionary Biology - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Evolutionary BIology - Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since the behavioral data did not always align perfectly with the species in that phylogeny, the researchers simplified the evolutionary tree to 44 genera, along with five families and one superfamily.
From Science Daily • May 2, 2026
"It describes a new genus and species, but places them in the phylogeny of tardigrades," Nelson told Salon.
From Salon • Sep. 1, 2024
The results corroborated the systematic membership of Dermaptera to Polyneoptera and strongly supported the phylogeny within the order, which was inferred from the latest molecular phylogenetic analyses but was significantly different from the conventional understanding.
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024
Evolutionary biologists could list many reasons why understanding phylogeny is important to everyday life in human society.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
Comments on some recent studies of song bird phylogeny.
From Thoracic and Coracoid Arteries In Two Families of Birds, Columbidae and Hirundinidae by Jenkinson, Marion Anne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
