macroevolution

American  

[mak-roh-ev-uh-loo-shuhn, -ee-vuh-] / ˌmæk roʊˌɛv əˈlu ʃən, -ˌi və- /

noun

Biology.

1. major evolutionary transition from one type of organism to another occurring at the level of the species and higher taxa.

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macroevolution British  

/ ˌmækrəʊˌiːvəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. biology the evolution of large taxonomic groups such as genera and families

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macroevolution Scientific  

/ măk′rō-ĕv′ə-lo̅o̅′shən /

1. Evolution that results in the formation of a new taxonomic group above the level of a species.

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Other Word Forms

• macroevolutionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of macroevolution

First recorded in 1935–40; macro- + evolution

Example Sentences

Moreover, the study touches on broader questions of macroevolution: how new species arise, adapt and diversify.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024

Microevolution describes the evolution of organisms over their lifetimes, while macroevolution describes the evolution of organisms over multiple generations.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Microevolution describes the evolution of microscopic entities, such as molecules and proteins, while macroevolution describes the evolution of whole organisms.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Over the course of two days, sessions covered sexual selection and macroevolution, the identification of sexual selection in the fossil record, relevant patterns, processes and mechanisms, and more.

From Scientific American • May 19, 2018

DCC macroevolution is unstudied but may be important for several reasons.

From Nature • Sep. 18, 2013