intelligent design

noun

: the theory that matter, the various forms of life, and the world were created by a designing intelligence

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

There are political and religious reasons, of course, but history shows than neither politics nor religion require a creationist belief in intelligent design. —Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2010

Not surprisingly, the court ruled that teaching intelligent design was also an unconstitutional imposition of religion. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2023

In most cases, this appeal is invoked to give false equivalence to a concept like intelligent design, which lacks evidence. —Christie Aschwanden, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2015

Despite what early philosophers once thought, or what believers in intelligent design might suggest now, orchid flowers were not shaped by the hand of a divine power. —Steven Bedard, Discover Magazine, 26 Nov. 2019

Its invocation has become routine in debates about topics that draw lay attention, from global warming to intelligent design. —Daniel P. Thurs, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015

On July 6, a site that promotes intelligent design (a k a the progeny of creationism) published an article by David Klinghoffer, the site's editor, questioning whether this actually happened. —Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2012

The Star Wars/Seven crossover ended badly An intelligent design children's book with a fire-breathing Parasaurolophus. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Oct. 2011

The intelligent design uses attaches to the rear triangle of the bike with simple silicone straps that tighten down over a large surface area for fast installation and removal. —Matt Beer, Outside Online, 2 Nov. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above