What does monogenesis mean?
Monogenesis is the doctrine that all human beings ultimately descended from one original human pair. It became especially important in debates about the origins of humanity, where it was contrasted with polygenesis, the view that different human groups arose independently. The word can also be used in evolutionary biology for the proposition that all living organisms trace their ancestry to a common source. In theological usage, monogenesis often refers specifically to the descent of all people from Adam and Eve, although some traditions interpret a single ancestral pair without requiring the biblical identification. Today, the term is less common in general discussion than broader expressions such as common descent, but it remains useful when distinguishing a strict single-origin doctrine from theories of multiple origins. Its etymological structure plainly reflects its meaning: mono- means “one,” and genesis means “origin” or “beginning.”
nounThe doctrine or belief that all humans descended from a single ancestral pair or individual. In evolutionary contexts, the term can also mean the theory that all living organisms originated from one common ancestor.
- The theological doctrine that all human beings descend from a single original pair.
- The evolutionary proposition that all living organisms ultimately trace their origin to a common ancestral form.
"Theological monogenesis holds that the entire human race descended from Adam and Eve."
"Critics of monogenesis argued that the diversity of human populations required separate origins."
"In evolutionary biology, monogenesis describes the view that life ultimately arose from one common ancestral population."
A plural is possible in scholarly usage but is uncommon in ordinary English.
"The authors compare competing monogeneses proposed in different theological traditions."
Monogenesis turns a familiar question—who came first?—into a claim about whether every human shares the same ultimate ancestor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monogenesis come from?
Monogenesis was formed in the early 17th century from Greek mono-, meaning “single” or “one,” and genesis, meaning “origin” or “beginning.” The combination expressed the idea of one original source. Its close relatives include monogenism and monogeny, while monogenic and monogenetic developed broader uses connected with single origins or single descent.
How monogenesis is actually used
The term is most common in theology and religious debate. In biology, it is more specialized and can be contrasted with polygenesis, the theory of multiple independent origins. Its wording reflects historical debates about human origins and may carry theological associations.
Easily confused with monogenesis
Monogenesis asserts descent from one origin, whereas polygenesis holds that different groups of organisms or humans originated separately.