coevolution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, Technical (primarily biology, ecology, but also extended to social sciences and technology).
Quick answer
What does “coevolution” mean?
The mutual evolutionary influence between two closely interacting species, where each adapts in response to changes in the other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The mutual evolutionary influence between two closely interacting species, where each adapts in response to changes in the other.
The process of reciprocal adaptive change and development over time in two or more interdependent systems, entities, or cultural phenomena, not limited to biology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The hyphenated form "co-evolution" is slightly more common in British English, but the solid form dominates in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and scientific in both.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard within relevant academic fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “coevolution” in a Sentence
coevolution of X and Ycoevolution between X and YX coevolves with YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coevolution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The yucca moth and the yucca plant have coevolved a highly specialised relationship.
- These parasites often co-evolve with their hosts over millennia.
American English
- The two species coevolved in isolation on the island.
- Technology and society are constantly coevolving.
adverb
British English
- The traits developed coevolutionarily, not in isolation.
- The systems changed co-evolutionarily.
American English
- The lineages evolved coevolutionarily for millions of years.
adjective
British English
- Their coevolutionary relationship is a classic case study.
- The co-evolutionary arms race led to increasingly complex toxins.
American English
- Coevolutionary dynamics are central to the theory.
- We studied the coevolutionary history of the gene families.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe the interdependent development of two companies or technologies.
Academic
Primary usage. Standard term in evolutionary biology, ecology, and related fields.
Everyday
Very rare. Would likely require explanation.
Technical
Core term. Used precisely to describe specific biological or systemic interactions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coevolution”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coevolution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coevolution”
- Using it to mean simply "evolving at the same time." Reciprocity is key.
- Misspelling as "co-evoluation" or "coevoloution."
- Using it as a simple synonym for "cooperation."
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Coevolution can be mutualistic (beneficial for both, like flowers and pollinators) or antagonistic (like a host and parasite in an arms race).
Yes. Diffuse coevolution involves networks of species, where a trait in one species evolves in response to a suite of other species, and vice versa.
Symbiosis describes a close, long-term *ecological* interaction (like living together). Coevolution describes the *evolutionary process* of reciprocal genetic change that often, but not always, underlies such interactions.
Yes, it is used metaphorically in fields like technology (e.g., the coevolution of smartphones and social media), linguistics, and sociology to describe interdependent development.
The mutual evolutionary influence between two closely interacting species, where each adapts in response to changes in the other.
Coevolution is usually academic, technical (primarily biology, ecology, but also extended to social sciences and technology). in register.
Coevolution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊˌɛvəˈluʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An evolutionary arms race (a specific intense form of coevolution).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DANCE PARTNER (co-) and how they EVOLVE (-evolution) their moves together over time, each step influencing the other's next move.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DANCE or an ARMS RACE between two partners.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST describes coevolution?