Definition of sexual selection
: natural selection for characters that confer success in competition for a mate as distinguished from competition with other species
also
: the choice of a mate based on a preference for certain characteristics (such as color or bird song)
Learn More About sexual selection
Statistics for sexual selection
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Sexual selection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexual%20selection. Accessed 21 Jan. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz
-
- Which is the correct spelling?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share sexual selection
Time Traveler for sexual selection
The first known use of sexual selection was in 1859
See more words from the same year