evolutionist

[ ev-uh-loo-shuh-nist or, esp. British, ee-vuh- ]

/ ˌɛv əˈlu ʃə nɪst or, esp. British, ˌi və- /

noun

a person who believes in or supports a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

a person who supports a policy of gradual growth or development rather than sudden change or expansion.

adjective Also ev·o·lu·tion·is·tic.

of or relating to evolution or evolutionists.

believing in or supporting a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

Nearby words

Origin of evolutionist

First recorded in 1855–60; evolution + -ist

Related forms

ev·o·lu·tion·ism, nounev·o·lu·tion·is·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, noun, adjectivean·ti·ev·o·lu·tion·is·tic, adjective

non·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, nounpre·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, nounpro·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for evolutionist

I am a theist and an evolutionist, to be sure, but the combined term makes no sense to me.
Meet the Prizewinning Catholic Biologist Creationists Can’t Stand|Karl W. Giberson|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus, to Spencer, the evolutionist theory contains no immorality.
Initiation into Philosophy|Emile Faguet
Why be a 'neo-vitalist,' or an 'evolutionist,' or an 'atomist,' or an 'Energetiker'?
The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method|Henri Poincar
(b) There is a second point which will also be recognised by the evolutionist.
On the Ethics of Naturalism|William Ritchie Sorley

A man, therefore, may be an evolutionist, without being a Darwinian.
What is Darwinism?|Charles Hodge
To the evolutionist Eugenics represents the study and expression of Nature's plan.
Race Improvement : or, Eugenics : a Little Book on a Great Subject|La Reine Helen Baker

British Dictionary definitions for evolutionist

evolutionist

/ (ˌiːvəˈluːʃənɪst) /

noun

a person who believes in a theory of evolution, esp Darwin's theory of the evolution of plant and animal species

adjective

of or relating to a theory of evolution

Derived Formsevolutionism, nounevolutionistic, adjective

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

Word Origin and History for evolutionist

evolutionist

1859, from evolution + -ist. Related: Evolutionism.