noun
- Plural of adaptationist; scientists or scholars who believe that most traits in organisms have evolved because they are adaptive and beneficial for survival or reproduction.
Usage: Used primarily in evolutionary biology and related fields; Often contrasted with those who emphasize non-adaptive evolution or neutral evolution
Examples
- Adaptationists argue that the peacock's elaborate tail evolved because it attracts mates.
- Many adaptationists focus on how natural selection shapes animal behavior.
- The debate between adaptationists and their critics has shaped modern evolutionary theory.
- Adaptationists tend to explain most morphological features as solutions to environmental challenges.
- Some adaptationists have been criticized for over-explaining traits that may have arisen by chance.