phylogenetic

adjective

phy·​lo·​ge·​net·​ic ˌfī-lō-jə-ˈne-tik How to pronounce phylogenetic (audio)
1
: of or relating to phylogeny
2
: based on natural evolutionary relationships
3
: acquired in the course of phylogenetic development : racial
phylogenetically adverb

Examples of phylogenetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It has been determined to be a new strain through morphological observation, genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and metabolic profiling, belonging to the genus Niallia within the family Cytobacillaceae. Andrew Jones, Space.com, 21 May 2025 Samples were stored at very low temperatures, returned to Earth, and subjected to genomic, metabolic, and phylogenetic analysis. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 To put that in perspective, microbes found in Finnish homes covered up to 12.23 percent of the phylogenetic tree, while rural homes in South America saw the figure bump up to 15.59 percent. Ars Technica, 2 Mar. 2025 The microbes found aboard the ISS encompassed only about 6 percent of the major clades on the bacterial phylogenetic tree. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phylogenetic

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin phylogenesis phylogeny, from phyl- + genesis

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of phylogenetic was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phylogenetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phylogenetic. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

phylogenetic

adjective
phy·​lo·​ge·​net·​ic ˌfī-lō-jə-ˈnet-ik How to pronounce phylogenetic (audio)
1
: of or relating to phylogeny
2
: based on natural evolutionary relationships
3
: acquired in the course of phylogenetic development
phylogenetically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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