Fisherian runaway

noun

A suggested sexual selection mechanism to account for the evolution of exaggerated male ornamentation (such as a peacock's plumage) by persistent, directional female choice.

Similar
runaway selection
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Meanings

nounFisherian runaway (uncountable)
  1. uncountableevolutionary theoryA suggested sexual selection mechanism to account for the evolution of exaggerated male ornamentation (such as a peacock's plumage) by persistent, directional female choice.

    Synonyms: runaway selection

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA suggested sexual selection mechanism to account for the evolution of exaggerated male ornamentation (such as a peacock's plumage) by persistent, directional female choice.

Similar
runaway selection
Also see
runaway selection

Origin

After Ronald Fisher, who proposed it in the early 20th century.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Fisherian runaway. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fisherian%20runaway

MLA

“Fisherian runaway.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fisherian%20runaway. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Fisherian runaway,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fisherian%20runaway.

Source: Fisherian runaway on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.