abiogenesis

[ ey-bahy-oh-jen-uh-sis, ab-ee-oh- ]

See synonyms for: abiogenetic on Thesaurus.com

nounBiology.

the theory that the earliest life forms on earth developed from nonliving matter.: Compare biogenesis.
Also called spon·ta·ne·ous gen·er·a·tion [spon-tey-nee-uhs jen-uh-rey-shuhn] /spɒnˈteɪ ni əs ˌdʒɛn əˈreɪ ʃən/ . the now discredited theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from inanimate matter.

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Origin of abiogenesis

a-⁶ + biogenesis; coined by T. H. Huxley in 1870

Other words from abiogenesis

a·bi·o·ge·net·ic [ey-bahy-oh-juh-net-ik, ab-ee-oh-], /ˌeɪ baɪ oʊ dʒəˈnɛt ɪk, ˌæb i oʊ-/, a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal, adjective
a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal·ly, adverb
a·bi·og·e·nist [ey-bahy-oj-uh-nist, ab-ee-], /ˌeɪ baɪˈɒdʒ ə nɪst, ˌæb i-/, noun

Words Nearby abiogenesis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abiogenesis in a sentence

abiogenesis, ab-i-o-jen′es-is, n. the origination of living by not-living matter, spontaneous generation.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) | Various
I entirely agree with his assertion that “to reject abiogenesis is to admit a miracle.”
The Riddle of the Universe at the close of the nineteenth century | Ernst Haeckel
The belief in abiogenesis or spontaneous generation, as now taking place, has completely disappeared from biological teaching.
Evolution in Art | Alfred C. Haddon
This belief led to the theory of abiogenesis so-called—a term signifying the production of life without life to begin with.
Notable Events of the Nineteenth Century | Various

British Dictionary definitions for abiogenesis

abiogenesis

/ (ˌeɪbaɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs) /

noun

Also called: autogenesis the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
another name for spontaneous generation Compare biogenesis

Origin of abiogenesis

C19: New Latin, from a- 1 + bio- + genesis

Derived forms of abiogenesis

abiogenetic, adjective
abiogenist (ˌeɪbaɪˈɒdʒɪnɪst), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for abiogenesis

abiogenesis

[ ā′bī-ō-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs ]

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