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

While natural selection favors traits that are conducive to survival and reproduction in the wild, artificial selection favors traits that benefit us humans. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Charles Darwin once noted that natural selection tends to preserve traits that conceal an animal in nature. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2025

Opt for more baked or natural selections with fewer ingredients. —Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025

However, the rapid evolutionary behavior isn’t a unique process separate from natural selection, as Eldredge and Gould suggested, but rather the result of periods of extremely rapid adaptation propelling evolutionary change. —Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025

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