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Word of the Day Tuesday, June 9, 2026

polyphyletic

/ˌpɒliˈfaɪlɪtɪk/ adjective · British & US
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What does polyphyletic mean?

adjective

Relating to or denoting a group of organisms that are not all descended from a common ancestor, but that share certain characteristics.

Example

"The biologist explained that the species were polyphyletic, meaning they had evolved independently from different ancestors."

Definition generated by AI and curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Synonyms for polyphyletic

Antonyms of polyphyletic

Rhymes with polyphyletic

Etymologically related