selfish gene

noun

The gene regarded as the primary driver and beneficiary of the evolutionary process.

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Meanings

nounselfish gene (plural selfish genes)

plural selfish genes

  1. evolutionary theoryThe gene regarded as the primary driver and beneficiary of the evolutionary process.

Origin

Coined by British biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976 in his book The Selfish Gene.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French gène égoïste
  • gène égoïstegene regarded as primary driver and beneficiary of the evolutionary process
Portuguese gene egoísta
  • gene egoístagene regarded as primary driver and beneficiary of the evolutionary process
Cite this entry
APA

selfish gene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selfish%20gene

MLA

“selfish gene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selfish%20gene. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “selfish gene,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/selfish%20gene.

Source: selfish gene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.