🧑‍🔬 Believer in separate origins 🌍 Separate origins

polygenist

1 9.9

Supporting the idea that different human groups began separately

adjective
/ˌpɒlɪˈdʒɛnɪst/

Archaic

: poligenista

The researcher presented evidence supporting a polygenist view of human origins, arguing that different races evolved independently.

Examples

Hybridity was central to both monogenist and polygenist theories as a criterion defining the boundaries between species of animals and possibly also between races of people: members of the same species were interfertile, while those of different species usually were not.

Academic text (2007)
In a heated debate, the author defended his polygenist stance, claiming that the differences among races indicate they have separate roots.
Edward Lengel has argued persuasively that the Great Famine, which lasted approximately from 1845 to 1850, played a significant role in furthering polygenist ideas in Britain.

Academic text (2007)
The historian examined polygenist theories and their impact on scientific discussions about human evolution in the 19th century.

Synonyms

polyphyletic

vspolygenist

Specialized

1 9.9

Made of parts or people from different, unrelated sources

relates specifically to the theory of separate human or group origins rather than mixed origins

polygenetic

vspolygenist

9.4

Developed from several different sources

focuses on the theory of separate human or group origins rather than general causes

Surface Forms

polygenist positive

Morphology

polygenist = poly + gen + ist

The form uses the learned prefix poly- and the suffix -ist, but the gen element and the specialized historical meaning are not transparent to an average learner.

Etymology

Polygenist comes from two Greek parts: poly- meaning 'many' and gen (as in genesis) meaning 'birth' or 'origin'. So an adjective like polygenist describes an idea that there are 'many origins' rather than a single origin.