adjective
Common
evolutionary
ee-vuh-LOO-shuhn-ree
Evolutionary (adjective) means relating to biological evolution or the theory of evolution. Example: “The evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs fascinates many young students.”
adjective
1
Relating to biological evolution or the theory of evolution.
"The basic elements of an evolutionary growth theory are discussed in Section II."
— , Neoclassical vs. Evolutionary Theories of Economic Growth: Critique and Prospectus (1974)
"The evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs fascinates many young students."
"The museum explains the evolutionary changes that let giraffes reach high leaves."
"Scientists study the evolutionary history of whales."
"The evolutionary history of marine mammals includes land-dwelling ancestors."
2
Involving gradual development rather than sudden, dramatic change.
"The new phone design is evolutionary, not revolutionary, with only small improvements."
"Reform came through evolutionary steps, each one a modest change to the rules."
"The company took an evolutionary approach to updating its product, making small changes over years."
How to use evolutionary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving to do with evolution, or happening gradually step by step.
Common mistake
Often contrasted with "revolutionary" (sudden and dramatic) — evolutionary change is slow and incremental.
Easily confused with
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The _____ link between birds and dinosaurs fascinates many young students.
Etymology
From evolution + -ary.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonevolutional
non-evolutional
nonevolutionary
non-evolutionary
Related words
Rhymes for evolutionary
See all rhymes for evolutionary →Frequently asked questions
What does “evolutionary” mean?
The word “evolutionary” means relating to biological evolution or the theory of evolution. In plain terms, having to do with evolution, or happening gradually step by step.
How do you pronounce “evolutionary”?
“Evolutionary” is pronounced ee-vuh-LOO-shuhn-ree (/ˌiː.vəˈluː.ʃən.ɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “evolutionary” in a sentence?
Here is “evolutionary” used in a sentence: “Scientists study the evolutionary history of whales.”
What is another word for “evolutionary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “evolutionary” include evolutional.
What is the opposite of “evolutionary”?
The opposite of “evolutionary” — its antonyms — are nonevolutional, non-evolutional, nonevolutionary and non-evolutionary.
What part of speech is “evolutionary”?
“Evolutionary” is an adjective.
Is “evolutionary” a common word?
“Evolutionary” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “evolutionary” have?
“Evolutionary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to biological evolution or the theory of evolution.
What is the difference between evolutionary and revolutionary change?
Evolutionary change happens gradually, developing step by step over time rather than through sudden upheaval. Revolutionary change, by contrast, is sudden, dramatic, and often disruptive, overturning what came before rather than building on it slowly.
When is evolutionary used outside of biology?
Beyond its biological sense relating to evolution and species development, evolutionary is often used to describe gradual development in other fields, such as "evolutionary changes" in technology, business, or design, meaning improvements introduced incrementally rather than all at once.
Is evolutionary the same as evolutional?
Evolutionary and evolutional are close synonyms with the same core meaning, relating to evolution or gradual development. Evolutionary is by far the more common and standard form in modern English.
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