natural selection
C1Scientific, academic, formal; occasionally used figuratively in journalism and general discourse.
Definition
Meaning
The primary process through which evolution occurs, whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
The gradual, non-random process by which heritable biological traits become more or less common in a population due to consistent environmental effects on the survival and reproduction of individual organisms with those traits. In extended figurative use, it can describe any non-guided, competitive process that favours certain outcomes based on fitness or suitability.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound noun, typically used as a non-count mass noun. It names a process, not an agent or event. In figurative use, it often implies an impersonal, competitive environment where only the 'fittest' or best-suited options persist.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The concept is identical in both varieties. Spelling of related words (e.g., 'favourable/favorable') follows regional conventions.
Connotations
Equally strong scientific/biological connotations in both varieties. Potential figurative use is similarly understood.
Frequency
Similar frequency within scientific/educational contexts. Slightly higher potential for figurative use in American political/economic commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + undergo/be subject to + natural selectionNatural selection + favours/acts on/operates on + [object][Process] + by + natural selection[Result] + of + natural selectionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Survival of the fittest (a specific outcome of natural selection, often used synonymously in lay contexts).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Figurative: 'In the startup world, it's natural selection—only the most adaptable companies secure funding.'
Academic
Core technical term in biology: 'The study demonstrates how natural selection drives speciation in isolated populations.'
Everyday
Figurative: 'Finding a parking spot in this city is like natural selection for drivers.'
Technical
Precise biological mechanism: 'Directional natural selection was observed for increased drought tolerance in the experimental cohort.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The population was naturally selected for cold resistance.
- Traits that naturally select for survival become common.
American English
- The population was naturally selected for cold resistance.
- Traits that get naturally selected become prevalent.
adverb
British English
- The species evolved natural-selectionarily. (extremely rare, non-standard)
American English
- The species evolved via natural selection. (prepositional phrase used adverbially)
adjective
British English
- The natural-selection process is gradual. (hyphenated attributive)
- They studied natural-selection pressures.
American English
- The natural selection process is gradual. (often open compound)
- They studied natural selection pressures.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Animals change over time. This is called natural selection.
- Big trees get more sun. Natural selection helps them live.
- Darwin explained evolution through natural selection.
- In nature, natural selection favours the strongest animals.
- The theory of natural selection proposes that advantageous genetic variations are preserved.
- Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a classic example of natural selection in action.
- Recent research has elucidated the genomic underpinnings of natural selection acting on cryptic colouration.
- Critics argue that applying the concept of natural selection to cultural phenomena constitutes a misleading analogy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: NATURE SELECTS. Picture a forest where only the tallest trees get enough sunlight (are 'selected' by nature) to survive and reproduce (make new trees).
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS A BREEDER/SELECTOR; THE ENVIRONMENT IS A FILTER; EVOLUTION IS A COMPETITION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'природный отбор' if context is figurative; the English term is highly scientific. In figurative contexts, consider 'естественный отбор' but be aware it still sounds technical. Do not confuse with 'natural choice' (естественный выбор).
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (*'a natural selection'). Using it to mean 'a good/normal choice' (e.g., *'The red wine was a natural selection for the steak'). Confusing it with 'sexual selection' (a specific subtype).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most closely associated with the mechanism of natural selection?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace jointly developed the concept. Darwin first used the term in his 1859 book 'On the Origin of Species'.
No. Evolution is the broader outcome—the change in heritable traits over generations. Natural selection is the primary (but not sole) mechanism that drives evolution.
Scientifically, it is defined as a biological process. However, the term is often used metaphorically in economics, technology, and linguistics to describe competitive processes where the best-adapted variants persist.
No. Natural selection favours traits that increase reproductive success in a given environment, which can sometimes lead to simplification or loss of features, as seen in cave-dwelling animals losing their eyes.