hopeful monster

noun

An organism exhibiting a significant mutation that may form a new lineage according to macromutation theory.

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Meanings

nounhopeful monster (plural hopeful monsters)

plural hopeful monsters

  1. evolutionary theoryAn organism exhibiting a significant mutation that may form a new lineage according to macromutation theory.

Origin

Coined by German biologist Richard Goldschmidt.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese monstro esperançoso
  • monstro esperançosoan organism exhibiting a significant mutation that may form a new lineage
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: hopeful monster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.