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coevolution

American  
[koh-ev-uh-loo-shuhn, -ee-vuh-] / ˌkoʊ ɛv əˈlu ʃən, -i və- /

noun

  1. evolution involving a series of reciprocal changes in two or more noninterbreeding populations that have a close ecological relationship and act as agents of natural selection for each other, as the succession of adaptations of a predator for pursuing and of its prey for fleeing or evading.


coevolution British  
/ kəʊˌiːvəˈluːʃən /

noun

  1. the evolution of complementary adaptations in two or more species of organisms because of a special relationship that exists between them, as in insect-pollinated plants and their insect pollinators

"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

coevolution Scientific  
/ kō′ĕv-ə-lo̅o̅shən /
  1. The evolution of two or more species that interact closely with one another, with each species adapting to changes in the other. The mutually beneficial development of flowering plants and insects such as bees and butterflies that pollinate them is an example of coevolution, as is the mutually antagonistic development of prey and predator species in which defensive adaptations in the one are matched by counteradaptations in the other aimed at neutralizing or overcoming them.


coevolution Cultural  
  1. The process that occurs when two species influence each other during evolution. For example, an insect may evolve specialized parts that allow it to feed on a specific flower, whereas the flower evolves to facilitate pollination by that particular insect.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of coevolution

First recorded in 1960–65; co- + evolution

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.

"Diversity among dogs isn't just a product of Victorian breeders, but instead a legacy of thousands of years of coevolution with human societies."

From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026

Now, new research has shown that C. montrouzieri larvae “steal” their carminic acid from an invasive bug that came to Spain from the Americas—even though the two creatures have no history of coevolution.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 12, 2024

How will such a predator-prey coevolution pan out?

From National Geographic • Dec. 12, 2023

“Given these findings, the almost-exclusive focus on humans by studies of the interaction of culture and genes should be expanded, and exploration of culture–genome coevolution models in suitable non-human animal systems encouraged,” the authors wrote.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2023

The relationship between pollinator and flower characteristics is one of the great examples of coevolution.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015