noun
darwinism
Darwinism (noun) means Charles Darwin's theory that living things evolve through natural selection, or a belief in this idea.
noun
1
Charles Darwin's theory that living things evolve through natural selection, or a belief in this idea.
2
A shorter term for neo-Darwinism, which combines Darwin's ideas on evolution with modern genetics.
3
Usually used after a word that describes it.
4
Any theory in biology that borrows ideas from Darwin's theory, such as adaptation, competition or slow evolution, or a belief in such a theory.
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Etymology
From Darwin + -ism (suffix forming names of schools of thought, systems, or theories), from the surname of the English natural philosopher, physician, and poet Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802), and his grandson the biologist, geologist, and naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). The word was apparently first applied in noun sense 1 (“Charles Darwin’s theory regarding the evolution of living organisms through natural selection”) by the English anthropologist and biologist Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–1895) in 1860: see the quotation.
Rhymes for darwinism
See all rhymes for darwinism →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of darwinism?
"darwinism" (noun) means charles Darwin's theory that living things evolve through natural selection, or a belief in this idea.
What are the different meanings of darwinism?
"darwinism" has 3 main meanings: 1. Charles Darwin's theory that living things evolve through natural selection, or a belief in this idea; 2. A shorter term for neo-Darwinism, which combines Darwin's ideas on evolution with modern genetics; 3. Usually used after a word that describes it.
