phyletic
adjective
phy·let·ic
fī-ˈle-tik 
: of or relating to evolutionary change in a single line of descent without branching
Examples of phyletic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This phyletic gradualism and the scale independence of evolutionary process has been challenged, in particular from the domain of developmental biology (albeit, not all ,or even most, developmental biologists).
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Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2010
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2010
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phyletic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary phyl- + -etic (as in genetic)
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near phyletic
Cite this Entry
“Phyletic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phyletic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
phyletic
adjective
phy·let·ic
fī-ˈlet-ik
: of or relating to the course of evolutionary or phylogenetic development
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