What Is Another Way to Say “Natural Selection”?

Looking for synonyms for natural selection? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say natural selection.

Survival of the fittest
Darwinian selection
Evolutionary selection
Selection pressure
Adaptive evolution
Differential reproduction
Fitness selection
Natural variability selection
Phenotypic selection
Sexual selection
Artificial selection (in contrast to natural, but related)
Genetic selection
Environmental selection
Directional selection
Stabilizing selection

Want to learn how to say natural selection professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Survival of the Fittest

Use “survival of the fittest” to describe the process where only the organisms best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce.

Example: In the harsh desert environment, survival of the fittest ensures that only the most drought-resistant plants thrive.

2. Darwinian Selection

“Darwinian selection” refers to the theory of natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing the role of competition in the survival and reproduction of species.

Example: Darwinian selection explains how species evolve over time through variations that provide a competitive advantage.

3. Evolutionary Selection

Use “evolutionary selection” to describe the broader process by which heritable traits that provide a reproductive advantage become more common in successive generations.

Example: Evolutionary selection has led to the diverse beak shapes found in Galapagos finches, each adapted to its food source.

4. Selection Pressure

“Selection pressure” is used to describe external factors that affect an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce.

Example: Predation acts as a selection pressure that can drive the evolution of defensive mechanisms in prey species.

5. Adaptive Evolution

Use “adaptive evolution” to describe the process by which organisms become better suited to their environment through natural selection.

Example: The adaptive evolution of camouflaging coloration in many animal species helps them avoid predators.

6. Differential Reproduction

“Differential reproduction” emphasizes the variance in reproductive success among individuals within a population due to genetic differences.

Example: Differential reproduction in bacteria populations can lead to antibiotic resistance spreading quickly.

7. Fitness Selection

“Fitness selection” refers to the process where individuals with greater fitness, or reproductive success, are more likely to pass on their genes.

Example: Fitness selection favors plants that can efficiently utilize limited water resources in arid environments.

8. Natural Variability Selection

Use “natural variability selection” to describe how natural selection acts on the existing genetic variability within a population.

Example: Natural variability selection in a population of beetles favored those with darker coloring, better camouflaged from predators.

9. Phenotypic Selection

“Phenotypic selection” focuses on how natural selection acts on the observable characteristics, or phenotypes, of organisms.

Example: Phenotypic selection has led to the development of thicker fur in animals living in colder climates.

10. Sexual Selection

Use “sexual selection” to describe the process of natural selection acting on traits that affect an individual’s ability to attract mates.

Example: The elaborate plumage of peacocks is a result of sexual selection, where females prefer mates with more impressive tails.

While related, “artificial selection” differs as it involves human intervention in selecting traits for breeding, rather than natural environmental pressures.

Example: Through artificial selection, domestic dogs have been bred for various traits, from temperament to physical characteristics.

12. Genetic Selection

“Genetic selection” refers to the process where certain genes become more common in a population due to the reproductive success of individuals carrying those genes.

Example: Genetic selection can lead to increased disease resistance in plants cultivated for agriculture.

13. Environmental Selection

“Environmental selection” emphasizes how specific environmental conditions drive the selection process.

Example: Environmental selection favors cactus species with adaptations to conserve water in desert ecosystems.

14. Directional Selection

“Directional selection” occurs when natural selection favors one extreme phenotype over the average or other extremes, leading to a shift in the population’s traits.

Example: Directional selection has led to increased beak size in some bird species, allowing them to crack open hard seeds more efficiently.

15. Stabilizing Selection

Use “stabilizing selection” to describe the process where intermediate phenotypes are favored over extremes, maintaining the status quo in a population.

Example: Stabilizing selection in human birth weight means that babies of average weight have higher survival rates than those at the extremes.