evolutionary

American  

[ev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee, ee-vuh-] / ˌɛv əˈlu ʃəˌnɛr i, ˌi və- /

adjective

1. pertaining to evolution or development; developmental.

   the evolutionary origin of species.

2. of, relating to, or in accordance with a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

3. pertaining to or performing evolutions.

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Other Word Forms

• antievolutionary adjective
• evolutionarily adverb
• nonevolutionary adjective
• preevolutionary adjective
• proevolutionary adjective
• unevolutionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of evolutionary

First recorded in 1840–50; evolution + -ary

Example Sentences

"This tells us that by the mid-Cambrian, when evolutionary rates were remarkably high, the oceans were already inhabited by arthropods with anatomical complexity rivaling modern forms," Ortega-Hernández added.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

"I believed this genome could help close a key gap and bring clarity to the broader evolutionary questions of cephalopods."

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

This approach combines anatomical features with fossil ages to estimate evolutionary relationships and divergence times.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

"There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Not only have you been lucky enough to be attached since time immemorial to a favored evolutionary line, but you have also been extremely–make that miraculously–fortunate in your personal ancestry.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• developmental
• transformative