spontaneous generation

noun

, Biology.

1. abiogenesis.

spontaneous generation

noun

1. a theory, widely held in the 19th century and earlier but now discredited, stating that living organisms could arise directly and rapidly from nonliving material Also calledabiogenesis

spontaneous generation

1. The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter, as maggots from rotting meat. The theory of spontaneous generation for larger organisms was easily shown to be false, but the theory was not fully discredited until the mid-19th century with the demonstration of the existence and reproduction of microorganisms, most notably by Louis Pasteur.
2. Also called abiogenesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of spontaneous generation¹

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Abiogenesis, ab-i-o-jen′es-is, n. the origination of living by not-living matter, spontaneous generation.

From Project Gutenberg

I submit the phenomenon of their strange origin to the scientific world as an instance of spontaneous generation.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, one of his works contains a rather famous prescription to bring about the spontaneous generation of mice.

From Project Gutenberg

On that account I doubt if spontaneous generation takes place in our time.

From Project Gutenberg

The old idea of spontaneous generation is now taken in many different senses.

From Project Gutenberg