phylum

[ fahy-luhm ]

noun

, plural phy·la [fahy, -l, uh].

1. Biology. the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan.
2. Linguistics. a category consisting of language stocks that, because of cognates in vocabulary, are considered likely to be related by common origin. Compare stock ( def 13 ).

phylum

/ ˈfaɪləm /

noun

1. a major taxonomic division of living organisms that contain one or more classes. An example is the phylum Arthropoda (insects, crustaceans, arachnids, etc, and myriapods)
2. any analogous group, such as a group of related language families or linguistic stocks

phylum

/ fī′ləm /

, Plural phyla

1. A group of organisms ranking above a class and below a kingdom.
2. See Table at taxonomy

phylum

1. plur. phyla One of the major divisions of the kingdoms of living things; the second-largest standard unit of biological classification. The arthropods , chordates , and mollusks are phyla. Phyla in the plant kingdom are frequently called divisions. ( See Linnean classification .)

Other Words From

• phylar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phylum¹

1875–80; < New Latin < Greek phŷlon tribe, stock; phylon

Word History and Origins

Origin of phylum¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek phulon race

Example Sentences

"Our results will have a big impact on our picture of the developmental history of one of the oldest phyla on Earth," says Wörheide.

From Science Daily

With more than 250,000 known species, nematodes comprise the world's most abundant animal phylum in both aquatic and terrestrial biospheres.

From Science Daily

Ranjan said one field of research in particular has him excited -- phylogenetic microbiology, which uses genome analysis to reconstruct the blueprints of sulfur-using microorganisms believed to represent the oldest phyla on Earth.

From Science Daily

Nearly 30 years ago, scientists discovered a unique class of anticancer molecules in a family of bryozoans, a phylum of marine invertebrates found in tropical waters.

From Science Daily

Flatworms and roundworms, two phyla with more than 20,000 species each, have no emoji at all.

From Los Angeles Times