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

evolutionary algorithm, evolutionary biology, evolutionary fitness, evolutionary medicine, evolutionary psychology, evolutionist, evolutive, evolve, evonymus, evoo, evora

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 Forms

evolutionism, 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