— gradualist , n. , adj. — gradualistic , adj.
/graj"ooh euh liz'euhm/ n.
1. the principle or policy of achieving some goal by gradual steps rather than by drastic change.
2. Philos. a theory maintaining that two seemingly conflicting notions are not radically opposed, but are related by others partaking in varying degrees of the character of both.
3. Biol. a tenet in evolutionary theory maintaining that species evolve slowly and continuously over long periods of geological time. Cf. punctuated equilibrium .
[ 1825-35, Amer.; GRADUAL + -ISM ]