divergent evolution
nounDivergent evolution is when animals or plants from the same family slowly change in different ways over a long time.
The beaks of finches on different islands show divergent evolution because each bird changed to eat the food near it.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In biology, the process where two or more related species become more and more different over time.
Divergent evolution made the polar bear and the brown bear look and act very differently.
3. In business or culture, the way groups or ideas move apart and become less alike.
The two sister companies showed divergent evolution, one selling phones and the other making movies.
4. A pattern in language where related words or languages drift apart in meaning or sound.
The words 'shirt' and 'skirt' are an example of divergent evolution from the same old word.