phylogenetic
adjective
phy·lo·ge·net·ic
ˌfī-lō-jə-ˈne-tik 
1
: of or relating to phylogeny
2
: based on natural evolutionary relationships
3
: acquired in the course of phylogenetic development : racial
Examples of phylogenetic in a Sentence
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The team pieced together what’s known as a phylogenetic tree showing how different human species may have diverged from one another over the past 1 million years.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Researchers analyzed 94 primate species, both living and extinct, using a Bayesian phylogenetic comparative approach.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
The researchers performed a morphological examination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DNA barcoding and a phylogenetic analysis, where its genome was compared to other similar species to determine their evolutionary relationship.
—Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2025
The researchers used the fossil record and phylogenetic trees — timelines of species emergence that are based largely on modern traits — to infer when colorful signals may have first emerged in plants and animals.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2025
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Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Researchers analyzed 94 primate species, both living and extinct, using a Bayesian phylogenetic comparative approach.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025
The researchers performed a morphological examination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DNA barcoding and a phylogenetic analysis, where its genome was compared to other similar species to determine their evolutionary relationship.
—Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2025
The researchers used the fossil record and phylogenetic trees — timelines of species emergence that are based largely on modern traits — to infer when colorful signals may have first emerged in plants and animals.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for phylogenetic
Cite this Entry
“Phylogenetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phylogenetic. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phylogenetic
adjective
phy·lo·ge·net·ic
ˌfī-lō-jə-ˈnet-ik
1
: of or relating to phylogeny
2
: based on natural evolutionary relationships
3
: acquired in the course of phylogenetic development
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