Darwin

American  

[dahr-win] / ˈdɑr wɪn /

noun

1. Charles (Robert), 1809–82, English naturalist and author.

2. his grandfather Erasmus, 1731–1802, English naturalist and poet.

3. a seaport in and the capital of Northern Territory, in N Australia.

---

Darwin ¹ British  

/ ˈdɑːwɪn /

noun

1. Former name (1869–1911): Palmerston.  a port in N Australia, capital of the Northern Territory: destroyed by a cyclone in 1974 but rebuilt on the same site. Pop: 71 347 (2001)

---

Darwin ² British  

/ ˈdɑːwɪn /

noun

1. Charles ( Robert ). 1809–82, English naturalist who formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection, expounded in On the Origin of Species (1859) and applied to man in The Descent of Man (1871)

2. his grandfather, Erasmus. 1731–1802, English physician and poet; author of Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life (1794–96), anticipating Lamarck's views on evolution

3. Sir George Howard , son of Charles Darwin. 1845–1912, English astronomer and mathematician noted for his work on tidal friction

---

Darwin Scientific  

/ där′wĭn /

1. British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution based on natural selection (1858). Darwin's theory, that random variation of traits within an individual species can lead to the development of new species, revolutionized the study of biology.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pro-Darwin
  adjective
• anti-Darwin
  adjective

Example Sentences

Private Chinese company Landbridge acquired a 99 year lease to Darwin Port in 2015, prompting criticism of Australia from then-US president Barack Obama.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Our study provides this foundation, and we’re proud that it’s been published in the same journal in which Charles Darwin first shared his groundbreaking ideas.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

The findings, published in Biology Letters, challenge ideas that date back to Charles Darwin.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Lewis has been flown from Alice Springs to Darwin and has been taken into police custody, Dole said.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

In the spring of 1838, as Darwin tore into a new journal—the maroon C notebook—he had more thoughts on the nature of this driving force.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee