speciation

Noun

speciation (usually uncountable, plural speciations)

1. (taxonomy) The process by which new distinct species evolve.
   • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page 3

     In both groups, however, we find copious and intricate speciation so that, often, species limits are narrow and ill defined.

2. (chemistry) The formation of different (inorganic) species (especially of ions) as the environment changes.