transformism

American  

[trans-fawr-miz-uhm] / trænsˈfɔr mɪz əm /

noun

Biology.

1. the doctrine of gradual transformation of one species into another by descent with modification through many generations.

2. such transformation itself.

3. any doctrine or instance of evolution.

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transformism British  

/ trænsˈfɔːmɪzəm /

noun

1. a less common word for evolution, used esp to refer to the theory of evolution

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Other Word Forms

• transformist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of transformism

1875–80; transform + -ism, modeled on French transformisme

Example Sentences

Enough, quite enough of that, without having transformism next to break down the sacred law of work.

From The Mason-Bees by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander

It is not the rigid old-fashioned materialism, but a return to the more plastic theories of Lamarck and the transformism of the Dutch botanist, Hugo de Vries.

From Unicorns by Huneker, James

Let us admit, however, that transformism may be wrong.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

Therefore biology could and would continue to establish between living forms the same relations and the same kinship as transformism supposes to-day.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur

Almost all that transformism tells us to-day would be preserved, open to interpretation in another way.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur