microevolution

noun

mi·​cro·​evo·​lu·​tion ˌmī-krō-ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce microevolution (audio)
 also  -ˌē-və-
: comparatively minor evolutionary change involving the accumulation of variations in populations usually below the species level
microevolutionary adjective

Examples of microevolution in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Health Humans are evolving a new artery More humans are being born with a third arm artery, an example of microevolution happening right before our eyes. Big Think, 24 June 2024 Fully resolving the paradox will require scientists to study time spans between macro- and microevolution, Porto said — on the scale of tens, hundreds or thousands of years. Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024 In the case of the new Paranthropus robustus cranium, labeled DNH 155, these new questions all centered on the tempo and mode of how human microevolution—small changes within a species—occurred in response to an evolving climate two million years ago. Jesse Martin, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2021 Because of this, smaller-scale evolutionary changes within a single species or lineage over time, called microevolution, is often difficult to detect. Briana Pobiner and Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021 New Paranthropus robustus fossils from South Africa show microevolution within a single species. Briana Pobiner and Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021 The differences between fossils at the two sites highlight microevolution within this Paranthropus lineage. Briana Pobiner and Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2021 This find is the first evidence of microevolution—the changes within a population of one species over time—in early hominids, reports the Australian Associated Press. Rasha Aridi, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2020 Some of these teachers might even introduce evolutionary ideas such as natural selection and microevolution. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'microevolution.' 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

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microevolution was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near microevolution

Cite this Entry

“Microevolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microevolution. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

microevolution

noun
mi·​cro·​evo·​lu·​tion
ˈmī-krō-ˌev-ə-ˈlü-shən also -ˌē-və-
: comparatively minor evolutionary change involving the accumulation of variations in populations usually below the species level
microevolutionary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on microevolution

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