natural selection

noun

: a natural process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment and that leads to the perpetuation of genetic qualities best suited to that particular environment

Examples of natural selection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Usually, patterns of natural selection take a long time to emerge. Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024 After 300 days of growth and natural selection in the lab, the minimal cells could successfully compete against the ancestral bacteria from which they were derived. Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023 Essentially, instead of the typical slow crawl of natural selection, snakes experienced many small changes in quick succession. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Despite that extreme initial genetic bottleneck, over the course of just 10 years, the insects started re-diversifying and adapting to their foreign habitat via natural selection, according to the research. Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024 Those mutations can affect how well the germ cells grow and produce successful eggs or sperm, which puts them in competition with respect to natural selection. Quanta Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 Those range from anatomical to metabolic changes, and can stem from generations of natural selection or simply the short-term effects of acclimatization. Max G. Levy, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2024 This introduced Darwinian natural selection to his idea of the cosmos: Whether or not a particular kind of universe proliferates depends on its fitness. Adam Frank, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2023 With its potent defensive toxins, the toad has crafted a near-perfect deterrent, yet the relentless march of natural selection empowers certain predators to find and exploit a critical weakness. Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'natural selection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of natural selection was in 1842

Dictionary Entries Near natural selection

Cite this Entry

“Natural selection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20selection. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

natural selection

noun
: a natural process in which individuals or groups best adapted to the conditions under which they live survive and produce young and poorly adapted forms are eliminated

Medical Definition

natural selection

noun
: a natural process that results in the survival and reproductive success of individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment and that leads to the perpetuation of genetic qualities best suited to that particular environment

More from Merriam-Webster on natural selection

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