biological determinism

[ bahy-uh-loj-i-kuhl di-tur-muh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. Sociology. the doctrine that considers genes or other inborn physical features to be the determining factor in the development of an individual or group. Compare cultural determinism ( def ), economic determinism ( def ), environmental determinism ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of biological determinism¹

First recorded in 1895–1900