apomorphy

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noun

A derived characteristic of a clade. Any feature novel to a species and its descendants.

Opposite
plesiomorphy
OriginAncient Greek μορφή (morphḗ) ← English apo- ← Proto-Hellenic *apó →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounapomorphy (plural apomorphies)

plural apomorphies

  1. systematicsA derived characteristic of a clade. Any feature novel to a species and its descendants.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
plesiomorphy

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

From apo- + -morphy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French apomorphie
  • apomorphiea derived characteristic of a clade
German Apomorphie
  • Apomorphiea derived characteristic of a clade
Portuguese apomorfia
  • apomorfiaa derived characteristic of a clade
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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