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

Organisms are automata directed by their genes, and natural selection favors gene variants that make the organisms behave one way and not another. — Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2026

Ever since Darwin, biologists have recognized that variation is the raw material of evolution by natural selection. — David Quammen, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

After several generations, those faster-growing cells produced more offspring and became increasingly common in the population, demonstrating a basic form of natural selection. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Those five generations were enough to show that natural selection could operate on SpudCells. — ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for natural selection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

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