systematics

noun

sys·​tem·​at·​ics ˌsi-stə-ˈma-tiks 

plural in form but singular in construction

1

: the science of classification

2

a

: a system of classification

b

: the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy

Examples of systematics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the rationale for this paper was to shine a light on the effects of natural selection on the Han genome and possible adaptations, not the systematics of East Asian human populations. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2011

Drymon sent the remains to Marcus Feldheim, a molecular systematics researcher at the Field Museum in Chicago, for DNA analysis and identification. —Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2019

There are errors that are well-quantified from three sources: statistics, systematics, and external input uncertainties; all of them are far too insignificant to explain this discrepancy. —Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2021

More than half of the top 100 journals in ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics mention or require the permanent archival of DNA sequences. —Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

systematics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

sys·​tem·​at·​ics ˌsis-tə-ˈmat-iks 

1

: the science of classification

2

a

: a system of classification

b

: the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy