spontaneous generation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic / Historical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “spontaneous generation” mean?
The obsolete biological theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter, without the need for parents or seeds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The obsolete biological theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter, without the need for parents or seeds.
The concept of something originating suddenly and without apparent external cause or preparation; used metaphorically to describe ideas, events, or actions that seem to arise instantly from nothing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally historical/academic in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is of a discredited, pre-modern scientific idea. Metaphorical use implies something arising without logical precedent.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse. Almost exclusively found in historical, philosophical, or biological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “spontaneous generation” in a Sentence
The [noun] disproved the theory of spontaneous generation.Experiments demonstrated that spontaneous generation [verb: does not occur].The belief in spontaneous generation [verb: persisted] for centuries.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spontaneous generation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Scientists once thought maggots spontaneously generated from rotting meat.
American English
- Researchers believed microbes spontaneously generated in the broth.
adverb
British English
- Life was thought to arise spontaneously generated from mud.
American English
- The mold appeared, seemingly spontaneously generated, overnight.
adjective
British English
- The spontaneous-generation hypothesis was difficult to eradicate.
American English
- Pasteur's swan-neck flask was a decisive spontaneous-generation experiment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
The refutation of spontaneous generation by Pasteur was a cornerstone of modern microbiology.
Everyday
Rarely used. Possibly in a metaphorical sense: 'His brilliant idea seemed like a case of spontaneous generation.'
Technical
Historical term for the hypothetical process by which living organisms develop from nonliving matter.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spontaneous generation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spontaneous generation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spontaneous generation”
- Using 'spontaneous generation' to mean 'unplanned event' (use 'spontaneous occurrence').
- Confusing it with 'spontaneous combustion'.
- Misspelling as 'spontaneous generation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a historical concept that was conclusively disproven by scientists like Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur.
'Spontaneous generation' refers to the ongoing, everyday formation of life from non-life (e.g., flies from meat). 'Abiogenesis' is the scientific term for the origin of life from non-living matter on the early Earth, a singular historical event.
Yes, it can be used to describe ideas, movements, or solutions that appear to arise suddenly and without obvious prior cause, though this is a sophisticated usage.
While Francesco Redi provided early evidence against it for larger organisms, Louis Pasteur is credited with the definitive experiments in the 1860s that disproved it for microorganisms.
The obsolete biological theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter, without the need for parents or seeds.
Spontaneous generation is usually academic / historical / scientific in register.
Spontaneous generation: in British English it is pronounced /spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /spɑːnˈteɪ.ni.əs ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rotten piece of meat SPONTANEOUSLY GENERATING flies, as people once believed. Remember it as the 'SPONTANeous creation of a GENERATION' of life.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN APPEAR FROM NOWHERE. / IDEAS ARE ORGANISMS THAT CAN SELF-CREATE.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'spontaneous generation' most accurately associated with?