Dictionary

Darwinism

noun Dar·win·ism \ˈdär-wə-ˌni-zəm\

: the theory of Charles Darwin about how plant and animal species develop

Full Definition of DARWINISM

1
:  a theory of the origin and perpetuation of new species of animals and plants that offspring of a given organism vary, that natural selection favors the survival of some of these variations over others, that new species have arisen and may continue to arise by these processes, and that widely divergent groups of plants and animals have arisen from the same ancestors — compare evolution 4, neo-Darwinism
2
:  a theory that inherent dynamic forces allow only the fittest persons or organizations to prosper in a competitive environment or situation <economic Darwinism> — compare Social Darwinism
Dar·win·ist \-wə-nist\ noun or adjective
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First Known Use of DARWINISM

1864

Rhymes with DARWINISM

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Medical Dictionary

Darwinism

noun Dar·win·ism \ˈdär-wə-ˌniz-əm\

Medical Definition of DARWINISM

:  a theory of the origin and perpetuation of new species of animals and plants that offspring of a given organism vary, that natural selection favors the survival of some of these variations over others, that new species have arisen and may continue to arise by these processes, and that widely divergent groups of plants and animals have arisen from the same ancestors; broadly :  a theory of biological evolution
Dar·win·ist \-wə-nəst\ noun or adjective

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Next Word in the Dictionary: darwinizePrevious Word in the Dictionary: Darwinian theoryAll Words Near: Darwinism
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