A character synapomorphic , or synapomorphie (of the Greek συν , “commun run”, απο , “derived from” and μορφος , “form”), is a derived character (or apomorphic), divided by two or several Taxon S. It is a concept more recent than the concept of homology, it emerged following work of the phylogeneticians.

Homologous bodies are the expression of a synapomorphie but the synapomorphie does not relate to obligatorily bodies of which the homology should be detected, it can relate to perfectly identical bodies or it can relate to characters which are not anatomical (for example biochemical).

All the living organisms presenting characters synapomorphic can be gathered in the same unit: for example the existence of feathers and the transformation of the Clavicule S into a fork are characters synapomorphic of the Oiseaux.

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