Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Survival of the fittest refers to the idea that in a population, individuals with traits that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to future generations.
Related terms
Natural selection: This term describes the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time based on their adaptive value.
Refers to any characteristic or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.
Fitness: In evolutionary terms, fitness is a measure of an individual's ability to contribute genes to future generations. It encompasses both survival and reproductive success.