Meaning & use
phylum
A major taxonomic rank in biological classification, grouping organisms that share a basic body plan, below kingdom and above class.
See it in a sentence
Humans belong to the phylum Chordata, along with all other animals possessing a backbone.
Scientists debated whether the strange fossil represented an entirely new phylum of ancient life.
A note on using this word
Phylum sits between kingdom and class in the standard biological classification system used to organize all living things.
Words with a similar meaning
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