social Darwinism

English

Etymology

From social (adjective) +‎ Darwinism (noun).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌsəʊʃl̩ ˈdɑːwɪnɪz(ə)m/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˌsoʊʃ(ə)l ˈdɑɹwənˌɪzəm/
  • Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)wɪnɪzəm
  • Hyphenation: social Dar‧win‧i‧sm

Noun

social Darwinism (uncountable)

  1. (sciences) The theory that the laws of evolution by natural selection also apply to social structures.
    • 1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 7:
      Night City was like a deranged experiment in social Darwinism, designed by a bored researcher who kept one thumb permanently on the fast-forward button.

Translations

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