Macroevolution
WordNet
noun
(1) Evolution on a large scale extending over geologic era and resulting in the formation of new taxonomic groups
WiktionaryText
Noun
- large-scale patterns or processes in the history of life, including the origins of novel organismal designs, evolutionary trends, adaptive radiations and extinctions
Usage notes
The term macroevolution was introduced to distinguish large-scale patterns of evolution from genetic and small-scale factors, which are termed microevolution.