transformism

[ trans-fawr-miz-uh m ]

/ trænsˈfɔr mɪz əm /

noun Biology.

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

such transformation itself.

any doctrine or instance of evolution.

Words nearby transformism

transformational-generative grammar, transformationalist, transformationist, transformer, transforming factor, transformism, transformist, transfuse, transfusion, transfusion nephritis, transfusion, blood

Origin of transformism

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for transformism

In no case can true variations claim to be of great importance in problems of transformism.
The Science and Philosophy of the Organism|Hans Driesch
From zoology has arisen the study of transformism, which now dominates the whole of biology.
The Last Link|Ernst Haeckel
It does not enter into our plan to set down here the proofs of transformism.
Creative Evolution|Henri Bergson
And so we are led to the negative side of the theory of transformism, after having discussed its positive half.
The Science and Philosophy of the Organism|Hans Driesch

Will it not, therefore, be better to stick to the letter of transformism as almost all scientists profess it?
Creative Evolution|Henri Bergson

British Dictionary definitions for transformism

transformism

/ (trænsˈfɔːmɪzəm) /

noun

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

Derived forms of transformism

transformist, noun

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