abio·gen·e·sis
ˌā-ˌbī-ō-ˈje-nə-səs 
: the origin of life from nonliving matter
specifically
: a theory in the evolution of early life on earth: organic molecules and subsequent simple life forms first originated from inorganic substances
According to the conventional hypothesis, the earliest living cells emerged as a result of chemical evolution on our planet billions of years ago in a process called abiogenesis. —
David Warmflash et al.
David Warmflash et al.
abi·og·e·nist
¦ā-ˌbī-ˈä-jə-nist
plural -s
: one who believes that life can be produced independently of antecedent life
Examples of abiogenesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The Miller-Urey experiment, as it is now known, supported the scientific theory of abiogenesis: that life could emerge from nonliving molecules.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Specifically, Tour believes that abiogenesis scientists have been unable to convincingly demonstrate naturally occurring pathways for molecules, such as proteins and amino acids, to create living cells.
—The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
There are two main hypotheses for how clumps of chemistry became lumps of biology—a process called abiogenesis.
—Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2023
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Noun
Scientists are concerned with how abiogenesis — the inception of life from non-living matter — could have occurred in the first place; some theories state that certain environments on Earth, like hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean or terrestrial hot springs, drove prebiotic processes.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
The Miller-Urey experiment, as it is now known, supported the scientific theory of abiogenesis: that life could emerge from nonliving molecules.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Specifically, Tour believes that abiogenesis scientists have been unable to convincingly demonstrate naturally occurring pathways for molecules, such as proteins and amino acids, to create living cells.
—The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
There are two main hypotheses for how clumps of chemistry became lumps of biology—a process called abiogenesis.
—Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Abiogenesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abiogenesis. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
abiogenesis
noun
abio·gen·e·sis
ˌā-ˌbī-ō-ˈjen-ə-səs
: the origin of life from nonliving matter
specifically
: a theory in the evolution of early life on earth: organic molecules and subsequent simple life forms first originated from inorganic substances
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