Meaning & use
Synapomorphy
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In cladistics, a distinguishing characteristic that is shared by two or more taxa because it was inherited from their most recent common ancestor, used as evidence of evolutionary relationship.
See it in a sentence
The presence of feathers is considered a synapomorphy linking birds to certain dinosaurs.
Researchers identified a genetic synapomorphy shared by all members of the newly defined clade.
A note on using this word
The term was coined by German entomologist Willi Hennig, founder of cladistics, from Greek syn- ("together"), apo- ("away from"), and morphe ("form").
Words with a similar meaning
shared derived trait
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
symplesiomorphy
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