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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of Darwinian

First recorded in 1855–60; Darwin + -ian

Example Sentences

It’s clear why a builder might want to sort gravel by size, but how does nature decide which features to select in Darwinian evolution?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

“And we’ll now, in my judgment, go through a Darwinian moment,” Golub said.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

The show, imported to the U.S. by Burnett, took the voyeurism of “The Real World” and added an element of Darwinian competition that other shows, including “The Challenge,” immediately tried to replicate.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2025

He has warned that European carmakers are in a "Darwinian" struggle with their Chinese rivals, something that is likely to have social consequences as they pare back costs in an effort to compete.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2024

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

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson