Lamarckian

American

[luh-mahr-kee-uhn] / ləˈmɑr ki ən /

adjective

of or relating to Jean de Lamarck or his theory of organic evolution.

noun

a person who holds this theory.

Lamarckian British

/ lɑːˈmɑːkɪən /

adjective

of or relating to Lamarck

"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

noun

a supporter of Lamarckism

"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

Etymology

Origin of Lamarckian

First recorded in 1840–50; Lamarck + -ian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Lamarckian

In the Lamarckian theory of evolution, changes in species occur not slowly over generational mutations, but within the lifetimes of individual animals.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2019

But biologists are quick to stress that what these organisms show is not true Lamarckian evolution.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 28, 2018

These stories fuelled my imagination about animal origins, albeit in an absurdist Lamarckian fashion.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 29, 2016

Whether you’re Darwinian or Lamarckian, you have to ask the question: What’s that information doing in the child if it doesn’t matter?

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2012

It is original in applying Lamarckian principles to a theory of society.46.Two vols.,

From Naturalism And Religion by Rudolf Otto

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023