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Definitions

natural selection

[nach-er-uhl si-lek-shuhn, nach-ruhl] / ˈnætʃ ər əl sɪˈlɛk ʃən, ˈnætʃ rəl /
NOUN
evolutionary theory
Synonyms
WEAK
Darwinian theory Darwinism adaptation artificial selection biological evolution evolution evolutionism law of the jungle natural law phylogeny social Darwinism social evolution survival of the fittest theory of evolution

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That was assumed to be the result of a natural selection.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

The theoretical approach, which studies human behavior, cognition and emotions as products of natural selection, depicts relationship formation as sales-like, highly gendered and strategy-based.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Evolution occurs through random variation and natural selection: The strong survive and reproduce; the weak perish.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Think of our astonishing good fortune to live on a planet capable of sustaining life for 4 billion years, allowing natural selection to create what Darwin called “endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful.”

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

By the late 1930s, Dobzhansky began to realize that his understanding of genes, variation, and natural selection had ramifications far beyond biology.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee