transformism

[ trans-fawr-miz-uh m ]

/ trænsˈfɔr mɪz əm /

the doctrine of gradual transformation of one species into another by descent with modification through many generations.

such transformation itself.

any doctrine or instance of evolution.

Origin of transformism

1875–80; transform + -ism, modeled on French transformisme

In no case can true variations claim to be of great importance in problems of transformism.

The Science and Philosophy of the Organism |Hans Driesch
From zoology has arisen the study of transformism, which now dominates the whole of biology.

The Last Link |Ernst Haeckel
It does not enter into our plan to set down here the proofs of transformism.

Creative Evolution |Henri Bergson
And so we are led to the negative side of the theory of transformism, after having discussed its positive half.

The Science and Philosophy of the Organism |Hans Driesch

Will it not, therefore, be better to stick to the letter of transformism as almost all scientists profess it?

Creative Evolution |Henri Bergson

transformism

/ (trænsˈfɔːmɪzəm) /

a less common word for evolution, used esp to refer to the theory of evolution

transformist, noun