microevolution

[ mahy-kroh-ev-uh-loo-shuhn or, especially British, -ee-vuh- ]

nounBiology.
  1. evolutionary change involving the gradual accumulation of mutations leading to new varieties within a species.

  2. minor evolutionary change observed over a short period of time.

Origin of microevolution

1
First recorded in 1935–40; micro- + evolution

Other words from microevolution

  • mi·cro·ev·o·lu·tion·ar·y, adjective

Words Nearby microevolution

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use microevolution in a sentence

Scientific definitions for microevolution

microevolution

[ mī′krō-ĕv′ə-lōōshən ]


  1. Evolutionary change below the level of the species, resulting from relatively small genetic variations. Microevolution produces new strains of microorganisms, for example, or the rise of a new subspecies. The accumulation of many microevolutionary changes results in macroevolution.

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