# gradualism

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. The belief that some phenomenon occurs gradually over a long period of time.
3. The belief that change ought to be brought about in small, discrete increments rather than in abrupt strokes such as revolutions or uprisings.

## Etymology
From gradual + -ism.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gradualism