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.

---

transformism British  

/ trænsˈfɔːmɪzəm /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

• transformist noun

Etymology

Origin of transformism

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

Example Sentences

The idea of transformism is already in germ in the natural classification of organized beings.

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

The idea of transformism is already contained in germ in the natural classification of organised beings.

From A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson by Benson, Vincent

Armed with this document, I went again to the cemetery of Montparnasse, where I fortunately found a conservator, M. Lacave, who is entirely au courant with the question of transformism.

From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)

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

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur