gradualism
/ɡɹˈædʒəwəlˌɪzəm/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.83 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
5
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The belief that some phenomenon occurs gradually over a long period of time.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The belief that change ought to be brought about in small, discrete increments rather than in abrupt strokes such as revolutions or uprisings.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Given enough time, the logic goes, water can cleave solid rock and mountains can be reduced to plains. This "gradualism" now underpins modern geologic thought. ... Maybe we'll find evidence that the rock layers are exposed on the flanks of Mount Sharp [on Mars] not because a river carved through them over millions of years, but because the wind blew against them for billions of years – the ultimate in gradualism."
Etymology
Etymology tree English gradual Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English gradualism From gradual + -ism.