evolutionist

[ ev-uh-loo-shuh-nist or, especially British, ee-vuh- ]

noun
  1. a person who believes in or supports a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

  2. a person who supports a policy of gradual growth or development rather than sudden change or expansion.

adjectiveAlso ev·o·lu·tion·is·tic.
  1. of or relating to evolution or evolutionists.

  2. believing in or supporting a theory of evolution, especially in biology.

Origin of evolutionist

1
First recorded in 1855–60; evolution + -ist

Other words from evolutionist

  • ev·o·lu·tion·ism, noun
  • ev·o·lu·tion·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, noun, adjective
  • an·ti·ev·o·lu·tion·is·tic, adjective
  • non·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, noun
  • pre·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, noun
  • pro·ev·o·lu·tion·ist, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for evolutionist

evolutionist

/ (ˌiːvəˈluːʃənɪst) /


noun
  1. a person who believes in a theory of evolution, esp Darwin's theory of the evolution of plant and animal species

adjective
  1. of or relating to a theory of evolution

Derived forms of evolutionist

  • evolutionism, noun
  • evolutionistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012