Lamarckian

[ luh-mahr-kee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Jean de Lamarck or his theory of organic evolution.

noun

1. a person who holds this theory.

Lamarckian

/ lɑːˈmɑːkɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Lamarck

noun

1. a supporter of Lamarckism

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lamarckian¹

First recorded in 1840–50; Lamarck + -ian

Example Sentences

The various models proposed for the mechanism of evolution, such as Lamarckian evolution, orthogenesis, and use-disuse, all implied some level of teleology, that there was a directionality inherent in the process.

From Scientific American

But biologists are quick to stress that what these organisms show is not true Lamarckian evolution.

From Science Magazine

The main alternative hypothesis was Lamarckian evolution, named after the French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.

From Nature

They did have Darwin’s warnings about the evils of inbreeding; and a Lamarckian belief in the heritability of acquired traits still lingered.

From Nature

Titled The Selfish Ledger, the 9-minute film starts off with a history of Lamarckian epigenetics, which are broadly concerned with the passing on of traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime.

From The Verge