(clinical psychology, psychiatry) A severe form of social anxiety disorder characterized by a total inability to speak or communicate orally in certain social settings. The inability to speak is involuntary and persistent, and is not caused by a communication disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, psychotic disorder, or intellectual disability.

(biology) The characteristic of an organism that enables it to survive and reproduce better than other organisms in a population in a given environment; the basis for evolution by natural selection.

(evolutionary theory) Intervention by humans in the breeding of plants or animals in order to preserve selected genetic traits.

plural of self-selection

(economics, business, insurance) The process by which the price and quantity of goods or services in a given market is altered due to one party having information that the other party cannot have at reasonable cost.

The practice of breeding the best specimens of a given organism to encourage certain features.

(evolutionary theory, rare, sometimes humorous or derogatory) The selection of certain genes caused by the actions of humans, especially the intentional intervention in the breeding of plants or animals in order to preserve selected genetic traits; eugenics, selective breeding or culling.

(religion) A process by which heritable traits are given or planned by a higher power, as distinguished from natural selection.

plural of selective distortion

Synonym of Fisherian runaway