apomorphic

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adjective

Of a characteristic, distinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor.

“The genus is highly apomorphic.”

OriginEnglish apomorphy ← Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ) ← Proto-Hellenic *apó →
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Meanings

adjectiveapomorphic (comparative more apomorphic, superlative most apomorphic)

comparative more apomorphic · superlative most apomorphic

  1. biologyOf a characteristic, distinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor.

    The possession of cilia is an apomorphic trait of this family.

  2. biologyOf a taxon, distinguished by such characteristics.

    The genus is highly apomorphic.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
  3. Proto-Hellenic*apó
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓πό (ăpó)
  5. Ancient Greekᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-)
  6. Englishapo-
  7. Ancient Greekμορφή (morphḗ)
  8. Englishapomorphy
  9. Englishapomorphic

From apomorphy + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French apomorphe
  • apomorphedistinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor
German apomorph
  • apomorphdistinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor
Portuguese apomórfico
  • apomórficodistinguishing an organism or taxon from others that share the same ancestor
Cite this entry
APA

apomorphic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apomorphic

MLA

“apomorphic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apomorphic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apomorphic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apomorphic.

Source: apomorphic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.