Definition

1. Noun:
   • A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment: This phrase describes the principle that individuals or groups best adjusted to their environment are the most successful in surviving and reproducing. It is a central concept in the theory of natural selection.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The harsh conditions in the desert are a clear example of survival of the fittest.
  • In business, some argue that market competition is akin to survival of the fittest.

Advanced Usage

• Used metaphorically: Often applied to non-biological contexts like economics, technology, or social systems to describe intense competition where only the strongest or most adaptable succeed.
  • In the tech startup world, it's pure survival of the fittest; only the most innovative companies last.

Variants and Related Words

• Natural Selection (n): The scientific term for the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. "Survival of the fittest" is a popular summary of this concept.
• Fitness (n): In biology, an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Synonyms

• Natural selection
• Struggle for existence (a related, broader concept encompassing competition for resources).

Related Phrases

• "Only the strong survive": A common idiomatic expression conveying a similar idea of resilience and competition.
  • In this industry, it's a case of only the strong survive.

Noun

1. a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment