Evolutionary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən/ (noun) /ˌan-tē-ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən/ (adjective) evo·lu·tion

Meaning & Definition of Evolutionary

Evolutionary (noun)

  1. descent with modification from preexisting species, cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms, the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations; also, the scientific theory explaining the appearance of new species and varieties through the action of various biological mechanisms (such as natural selection, genetic mutation or drift, and hybridization)
  2. the historical development of a biological group (such as a species), phylogeny
  3. a process of change in a certain direction, unfolding
  4. a discipline of biology concerned with the processes and patterns of biological evolution especially in relation to the diversity of organisms and how they change over time
  5. a field of biology that combines the disciplines of evolutionary biology and developmental biology to study the relationship between evolution and developmental processes and mechanisms —called also evo-devo
  6. the study of human cognition and behavior with respect to their evolutionary origins

Evolutionary (adjective)

  1. opposing or rejecting the biological theory of evolution or prohibiting its teaching

Evolutionary (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced

    "the evolution of motion pictures from short, silent reels into a medium of mass entertainment and an art form"

    similar: development, elaboration, expansion, growth, progress, progression
    related: advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis
    opposite: regress, regression, retrogression, reversion
    near: backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Evolutionary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Evolutionary:

development, elaboration, expansion, growth, progress, progression

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Evolutionary

Words with the opposite meaning of Evolutionary:

regress, regression, retrogression, reversion

Related Words for Evolutionary

advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement, incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening, blossoming, flourishing, flowering, addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation, emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis

Near Antonyms of Evolutionary

backslide, lapse, relapse, decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

Word Forms of Evolutionary

Derived words: evolutionarily (adverb), evolutionary (adjective), evolutionism (noun), evolutionist (noun or adjective), evolutionary biologist (noun), evolutionary developmental biologist (noun), evolutionary psychologist (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Evolutionary

borrowed from New Latin ēvolūtiōn-, ēvolūtiō "unfolding of a curve (in geometry), emergence from an enclosing structure, historical development," going back to Medieval Latin, "unfolding of a tale, lapse of time," going back to Latin, "unrolling of a papyrus scroll while reading it," from ēvolū-, variant stem of ēvolvere "to roll out or away, unwind, unroll" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action evolve

First known use: 1616

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Evolutionary

Words & Phrases Containing Evolutionary

evolutionary biology, evolutionary developmental biology, evolutionary psychology

Frequently Asked Questions about Evolutionary

What does "Evolutionary" mean?

"Evolutionary" means descent with modification from preexisting species, cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms, the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations; also, the scientific theory explaining the appearance of new species and varieties through the action of various biological mechanisms (such as natural selection, genetic mutation or drift, and hybridization). As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: descent with modification from preexisting species, cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms, the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations; also, the scientific theory explaining the appearance of new species and varieties through the action of various biological mechanisms (such as natural selection, genetic mutation or drift, and hybridization).

What is another word for "Evolutionary"?

Other words for "Evolutionary" include development, elaboration, expansion, growth, progress and progression. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Evolutionary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Evolutionary"?

There are 25 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Evolutionary". Common alternatives include development, elaboration, expansion, growth, progress and progression.

What is the opposite of "Evolutionary"?

Antonyms of "Evolutionary" include regress, regression, retrogression and reversion. Near antonyms include backslide, lapse, relapse and decadence.

How do you use "Evolutionary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Evolutionary" in a sentence: "the evolution of motion pictures from short, silent reels into a medium of mass entertainment and an art form".

Is "Evolutionary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Evolutionary" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Evolutionary" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Evolutionary" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Evolutionary"?

"Evolutionary" is pronounced /ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən/ as a noun and /ˌan-tē-ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as evo·lu·tion.