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cladistics

[ kluh-dis-tiks ]

noun

, Biology.
  1. classification of organisms based on the branchings of descendant lineages from a common ancestor.


cladistics

/ kləˈdɪstɪks; ˈklædɪst; ˈklædɪzəm /

noun

  1. functioning as singular biology a method of grouping animals that makes use of lines of descent rather than structural similarities
“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


cladistics

/ klə-dĭstĭks /

  1. A system of classification based on the presumed phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of groups of organisms, rather than purely on shared features. Many taxonomists prefer cladistics to the traditional hierarchies of Linnean classification systems.
  2. Compare Linnean


cladistics

  1. A method of taxonomic classification that groups organisms according to their lines of evolutionary descent. All descendants of a given organism are called a clade.


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Derived Forms

  • cladism, noun
  • cladist, noun
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Other Words From

  • cla·distic adjective
  • cla·disti·cal·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cladistics1

1965–70; cladist(ic) ( clad-, -istic ) + -ics
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cladistics1

C20: New Latin, from Greek klādos branch, shoot

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