cladogram: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Highly technical, scientific
Quick answer
What does “cladogram” mean?
A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms based on shared derived characteristics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms based on shared derived characteristics.
A treelike diagram used in cladistics to represent a hypothesis about the phylogenetic relationships of taxa, where branch points (nodes) indicate the most recent common ancestor of the descendant groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is used identically in scientific discourse.
Connotations
Purely scientific, with no regional connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, exclusive to academic biology/evolutionary science. Frequency is identical across regions within that register.
Grammar
How to Use “cladogram” in a Sentence
The cladogram [VERB] that...A cladogram of [TAXA]According to the cladogram, ...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in evolutionary biology, systematics, palaeontology, and related life science fields to discuss and visualise hypotheses of evolutionary relationships.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in cladistics. Used to present results of morphological or molecular data analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cladogram”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cladogram”
- Using 'cladogram' and 'phylogenetic tree' as perfect synonyms (cladograms are a specific type).
- Pronouncing it as /kleɪdəʊɡræm/ (it's /klædəɡræm/).
- Assuming branch length indicates time (in a basic cladogram, it does not).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Conceptually similar, but a cladogram is specifically for biological taxa (species, genera, etc.), showing evolutionary relationships, not personal family connections.
In a basic cladogram, branch length is arbitrary and does not indicate time or amount of evolutionary change. In a phylogram, a related diagram, branch length can represent genetic change.
It is a core term in cladistics, which is a method within the fields of evolutionary biology and systematics (the science of classifying organisms).
No, a cladogram is a scientific hypothesis. It is supported or challenged by evidence (morphological, molecular) and can be revised as new data emerges.
A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms based on shared derived characteristics.
Cladogram is usually highly technical, scientific in register.
Cladogram: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklæd.ə.ɡræm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæd.ə.ɡræm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CLADOGRAM' = 'CLADO' (from Greek 'klados' meaning branch) + 'GRAM' (something written/drawn). It's a diagram of branches showing who is related to whom.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAMILY TREE (for species), a MAP OF RELATIONSHIPS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a cladogram?