1. A major taxonomic category of animals or plants that ranks below kingdom and above class.
Usage: Biology; standard in scientific classification

Examples

• Humans belong to the phylum Chordata.
• The phylum Arthropoda includes insects, spiders, and crustaceans.
• Scientists classify organisms into phyla based on shared structural features.
• The phylum Mollusca contains snails, clams, and octopuses.
• Each phylum represents a major body plan in the animal kingdom.