systematics

noun

sys·​tem·​at·​ics ˌsi-stə-ˈma-tiks How to pronounce systematics (audio)
plural in form but singular in construction
1
: the science of classification
2
a
: a system of classification
b
: the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy

Examples of systematics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the rationale for this paper was to shine a light on the effects of natural selection on the Han genome and possible adaptations, not the systematics of East Asian human populations. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2011 Drymon sent the remains to Marcus Feldheim, a molecular systematics researcher at the Field Museum in Chicago, for DNA analysis and identification. Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2019 There are errors that are well-quantified from three sources: statistics, systematics, and external input uncertainties; all of them are far too insignificant to explain this discrepancy. Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021 More than half of the top 100 journals in ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics mention or require the permanent archival of DNA sequences. Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'systematics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of systematics was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near systematics

Cite this Entry

“Systematics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/systematics. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

systematics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction
sys·​tem·​at·​ics ˌsis-tə-ˈmat-iks How to pronounce systematics (audio)
1
: the science of classification
2
a
: a system of classification
b
: the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy

More from Merriam-Webster on systematics

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