evolutionary

[ev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee, ee-vuh-]

adjective

1. pertaining to evolution or development; developmental.

   the evolutionary origin of species.

2. of, relating to, or in accordance with a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

3. pertaining to or performing evolutions.

Other Word Forms

• evolutionarily adverb
• antievolutionary adjective
• nonevolutionary adjective
• preevolutionary adjective
• proevolutionary adjective
• unevolutionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of evolutionary¹

First recorded in 1840–50; evolution + -ary

Example Sentences

This evolutionary gift adds a clammy disquiet to the eye-jacked livestock, which never rests and is constantly evaluating its captors and fellow captives.

From Salon

"What we're realising from this work is that our relationship with alcohol goes deep back into evolutionary time, probably about 30 million years," she told BBC News.

From BBC

Of Yemeni and Syrian heritage, Al-Shamahi grew up in Birmingham, England; earned degrees in evolutionary biology and taxonomy and biodiversity from Imperial College London and was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times

I am in the camp that believes AI in many industries is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Rob Dunn, a biologist and professor in the Department of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University, our taste for sour foods is both biological and evolutionary.

From Salon

Related Words

• developmental www.thesaurus.com
• metamorphic 
• transformative