1. The theory that organisms have developed and diversified from earlier forms through natural processes, especially natural selection.
Usage: Often used in scientific and educational contexts; Closely associated with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution
2. A philosophical or social doctrine that explains cultural, social, or historical change as a gradual process of development and improvement.
Usage: Used in anthropology, sociology, and philosophy; Broader application beyond biology

Examples

• Evolutionism provides a scientific framework for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.
• The biologist explained evolutionism to the high school class using fossil records and genetic evidence.
• Nineteenth-century evolutionism influenced not only biology but also sociology and anthropology.
• Many religious communities reject evolutionism in favor of creation accounts.
• Modern evolutionism incorporates genetics and molecular biology into Darwin's original theory.
• The museum's exhibit on evolutionism traced human development over millions of years.