monophyletic Definition
of a group of organisms: derived from a common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group, especially one not shared with any other group.
Using monophyletic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "monophyletic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The monophyletic group includes all descendants of a single common ancestor.
Example
A monophyletic taxon is one that includes all the descendants of a particular ancestor.
Example
The classification system is based on the monophyletic groups of organisms.
monophyletic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for monophyletic
- cladistic
- holophyletic
Summary: monophyletic in Brief
The term 'monophyletic' [mon-uh-fahy-let-ik] refers to a group of organisms that share a common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group, which is not shared with any other group. It is a term used in biology and taxonomy, and it is synonymous with 'cladistic' and 'holophyletic.' Examples of its use include 'The monophyletic group includes all descendants of a single common ancestor,' and 'The classification system is based on the monophyletic groups of organisms.'