Darwinian

American  

[dahr-win-ee-uhn] / dɑrˈwɪn i ən /

adjective

1. (sometimes lowercase) pertaining to Charles Darwin or his doctrines.

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noun

1. a follower of Charles Darwin; a person who accepts or advocates Darwinism.

Darwinian British  

/ dɑːˈwɪnɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Charles Darwin or his theory of evolution by natural selection

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noun

1. a person who accepts, supports, or uses this theory

Other Word Forms

• anti-Darwinian
  noun
• non-Darwinian
  adjective
• post-Darwinian
  adjective
• pre-Darwinian
  adjective
• pro-Darwinian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Darwinian

First recorded in 1855–60; Darwin + -ian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Darwinian

Bradford’s potboiler hit in time to meet the “greed is good” ’80s, a decade when the wealth divide increased sharply and economic survival felt only slightly less Darwinian than it does today.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

Yet the crows offer a saving contrast to the Darwinian competition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

It applied Darwinian logic to human activity - including fighting, feeding, comfort and sex.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

"The world has become very Darwinian again," he warned.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

It is a Darwinian struggle, in which only the most fit or adaptable survive.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson