evolutionism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a philosophical or social doctrine that treats evolution as a universal process, often identified with progress

   Nineteenth-century evolutionism sometimes assumed that every society followed the same path of development.

2. 2
   noun

   acceptance or advocacy of biological evolution, especially Darwinian evolution

   Evolutionism became a focus of public debate after Darwin's ideas reached a wider audience.

Formed in the nineteenth century from evolution + -ism. Evolution comes from Latin evolutio 'an unrolling,' from evolvere 'to unroll or unfold.' Evolutionism first named doctrines that treated natural, social, or cosmic history as a process of development, and later also the advocacy of biological evolution.

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