homophyly

H4O1M3O1P3H4Y4L1Y4

noun

That form of homology due to common ancestry (phylogenetic homology), in opposition to homomorphy, to which genealogic basis is wanting.

OriginAncient Greek φυλή →
Scrabble 25
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounhomophyly (usually uncountable, plural homophylies)

plural homophylies

  1. archaicuncountableusuallybiologyThat form of homology due to common ancestry (phylogenetic homology), in opposition to homomorphy, to which genealogic basis is wanting.

    The concept of homophyly suggests that people who share similar backgrounds are more likely to feel comfortable with each other

    1997, Alfred Kadushin, Goldie Kadushin, The Social Work Interview: Fourth Edition

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekφυλή“clan”
  2. Englishhomophyly

homo- + Ancient Greek φυλή (phulḗ, “clan”) + -y.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

homophyly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homophyly

MLA

“homophyly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homophyly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “homophyly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/homophyly.

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