Standard Lemma guide

neo-Darwinism

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌniːə(ʊ)ˈdɑːwɪnɪz(ə)m/
  • General-American: /ˌnioʊˈdɑɹwənˌɪzəm/
  • rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)wɪnɪzəm

1

noun

Meaning 1

The synthesis of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Darwinism, modern synthesis

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in terms of genetic mutations

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: Darwinism

History

Etymology

From neo- + Darwinism.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: neodarwinisme — synthesis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity
  • French: néo-darwinisme — synthesis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity
  • German: Neodarwinismus — synthesis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity
  • Greek: νεοδαρβινισμός (neodarvinismós) — synthesis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity
  • Italian: neodarvinismo — synthesis of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through natural selection with the modern genetic understanding of heredity