natural selection

noun

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of natural selection

: 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

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Recent Examples of natural selection from the Web

His studies of artificial selection were a crucial part of his understanding of natural selection.

— simon barnes, WSJ, "‘Pasta for Nightingales’ Review: Birdwatching Tips From the Renaissance," 13 Apr. 2018
That left Armstead as the most natural selection to play the weak side.

— andy benoit, SI.com, "In San Francisco, the NFL’s Next Great Defensive Force Emerges," 22 June 2018
Nevertheless, Alma’s study of mosses enables her to arrive independently at a theory of natural selection like that of Darwin.

— WSJ, "Randall Fuller," 1 June 2018
She and her colleagues also found evidence for natural selection on a gene called BDKRB2.

— carl zimmer, New York Times, "Bodies Remodeled for a Life at Sea," 19 Apr. 2018
But not for Liu, who’s spent the last two decades harnessing the Darwinian ruthlessness of natural selection to create totally novel molecules.

— megan molteni, WIRED, "Inside a Chemist’s Quest to Hack Evolution and Cure Genetic Disease," 12 June 2018
Having so many allows animals to generate variation, the driver of natural selection.

— darren griffin, Scientific American, "Jurassic World: Can We Really Resurrect a Dinosaur?," 6 June 2018
One can imagine, for places in desperate need of refreshment, a kind of natural selection for indigenous varieties, prized not just for their hardiness but for their restorative powers.

— patrick comiskey, latimes.com, "Cool white wines from hot climates," 15 May 2018
Wallace formulated his theory of natural selection.

— franz lidz, Smithsonian, "The Great Feather Heist," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'natural selection.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of natural selection

1842

in the meaning defined above

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NATURAL SELECTION Defined for English Language Learners

natural selection

noun

Definition of natural selection for English Language Learners

: the process by which plants and animals that can adapt to changes in their environment are able to survive and reproduce while those that cannot adapt do not survive