panspermia

noun

pan·​sper·​mia ˌpan-ˈspər-mē-ə How to pronounce panspermia (audio)
: a theory propounded in the 19th century in opposition to the theory of spontaneous generation and holding that reproductive bodies of living organisms exist throughout the universe and develop wherever the environment is favorable

Dictionary Entries Near panspermia

Cite this Entry

“Panspermia.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/panspermia. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!