systematics

American  

[sis-tuh-mat-iks] / ˌsɪs təˈmæt ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the study of systems or of classification.

2. Biology.

   1. the study and classification of organisms with the goal of reconstructing their evolutionary histories and relationships.

   2. phylogenetic classification.

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systematics British  

/ ˌsɪstɪˈmætɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of systems and the principles of classification and nomenclature

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Etymology

Origin of systematics

First recorded in 1885–90; systematic, -ics

Example Sentences

Professor Hoshino, an expert in plant systematics, founded the Institute of Viticulture and Enology at OUS in April 2017.

From Science Daily • Nov. 3, 2025

The emerging field called virus molecular systematics attempts to do just that through comparisons of sequenced genetic material.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The organizational scheme was based mainly on physical features, as opposed to physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology, all of which are used by modern systematics.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The goal of systematics is to organize living things into groups that have biological meaning.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

The relationships of the species now included in this Family have been the subject of much discussion and constitute an important problem in avian systematics.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by Stallcup, William B.