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

cladistics

/ klə-dĭs′tĭks /

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.

Derived Forms

• cladism, noun
• cladist, noun

Other Words From

• cla·distic adjective
• cla·disti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cladistics¹

1965–70; cladist(ic) ( clad-, -istic ) + -ics

Word History and Origins

Origin of cladistics¹

C20: New Latin, from Greek klādos branch, shoot