Definition of CLADISTICS

cladistics

Noun

  • a system of biological taxonomy based on the quantitative analysis of comparative data and used to reconstruct cladograms summarizing the (assumed) phylogenetic relations and evolutionary history of groups of organisms
  • An approach to biological systematics in which organisms are grouped based upon synapomorphies (shared derived characteristics) only, and not upon symplesiomorphies (shared ancestral characteristics); a method of classifying organisms based on their evolutionary relationships instead of superficial characteristics.

Origin / Etymology

From clade + -istic, from Ancient Greek κλάδος (kládos, “branch”).

Synonyms

cladistic analysis

Scrabble Score: 15

cladistics: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
cladistics: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
cladistics: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

cladistics: valid Words With Friends Word