Maladaptation
A trait that is more harmful than helpful — in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful.
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Origin
The concept emerged from the long shadow of Charles Darwin's work, which so emphasized adaptive success that evolutionary failures went largely unstudied. In 1966, George C. Williams sharpened the idea in Adaptation and Natural Selection, arguing that apparent design flaws deserved rigorous scientific scrutiny rather than convenient dismissal.
Updated February 22, 2026