spontaneous generation

American  

noun

Biology.

1. abiogenesis.

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spontaneous generation British  

noun

1. Also called: abiogenesis.  a theory, widely held in the 19th century and earlier but now discredited, stating that living organisms could arise directly and rapidly from nonliving material

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spontaneous generation Scientific  

1. The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter, as maggots from rotting meat. The theory of spontaneous generation for larger organisms was easily shown to be false, but the theory was not fully discredited until the mid-19th century with the demonstration of the existence and reproduction of microorganisms, most notably by Louis Pasteur.

2. Also called abiogenesis

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Etymology

Origin of spontaneous generation

First recorded in 1650–60

Compare meaning

How does spontaneous-generation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• spontaneous generation vs. biogenesis

Example Sentences

Spontaneous generation is therefore out of the question.

From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John

Spontaneous generation is, as yet, an imaginative guess, unverified by scientific tests.

From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John

Spontaneous generation from dead matter is ruled out of court at present.

From A Trip to Venus by Munro, John

Spontaneous generation seems almost as great a puzzle as preordination.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Spontaneous generation does not correlate with the idea that "life-germs always existed."

From The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal, Volume I, No. 9. September, 1880 by Walker, Aaron