gradualism

English

noun
Definitions
  • (biology) The belief that evolution proceeds at a steady pace, without the sudden development of new species or biological features from one generation to the next.
  • (transferred sense) The belief that some phenomenon occurs gradually over a long period of time.
  • (politics) The belief that change ought to be brought about in small, discrete increments rather than in abrupt strokes such as revolutions or uprisings.

Etymology

Suffix from English gradual.

Origin

English

gradual

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms