abiogenesis

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

noun

Biology.

1. the theory that the earliest life forms on earth developed from nonliving matter.

2. Also called spontaneous generation. the now discredited theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from inanimate matter.

abiogenesis

/ ˌeɪbaɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, ˌeɪbaɪˈɒdʒɪnɪst /

noun

1. Also called: autogenesis. the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter

2. another name for spontaneous generation Compare biogenesis

abiogenesis

1. See spontaneous generation

Other Word Forms

• abiogenetic adjective
• abiogenist noun
• abiogenetical adjective
• abiogenetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of abiogenesis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of abiogenesis¹

C19: New Latin, from _a- ¹ + _bio- + _genesis