Origin of Species, The


noun
  1. (On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life) a treatise (1859) by Charles Darwin setting forth his theory of evolution.

Words Nearby Origin of Species, The

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

Cultural definitions for The Origin of Species

The Origin of Species

(1859) A book by Charles Darwin explaining his theory of evolution. It provoked great controversy; by casting doubt on the historical accuracy of the biblical accounts of Creation, it caused many believers to question their faith in Christianity. (See creationism and Scopes trial.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.