adaptationist
adjective
ad·ap·ta·tion·ist
ˌa-ˌdap-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nist 
-dəp-
: explaining or seeking to explain the evolution of traits in terms of their adaptive function or survival value
adaptationist
noun
Examples of adaptationist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This might seem obvious at a personal level, but Miller explores it from an adaptationist perspective, as a force for the evolution of certain traits.
—
Paul Bloom, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
But in 1968, the famed population geneticist Motoo Kimura resisted the adaptationist perspective with his neutral theory of molecular evolution.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2018
The biologists who most militantly defend the adaptationist Darwinian view of evolution, such as Richard Dawkins, do not gladly suffer dissent.
—David Dobbs, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2017
Paul Bloom, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
But in 1968, the famed population geneticist Motoo Kimura resisted the adaptationist perspective with his neutral theory of molecular evolution.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2018
The biologists who most militantly defend the adaptationist Darwinian view of evolution, such as Richard Dawkins, do not gladly suffer dissent.
—David Dobbs, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adaptationist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1931, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near adaptationist
Cite this Entry
“Adaptationist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptationist. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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