Any of several theories about the evolution of species which proceeds in major steps, or strides, by the abrupt transformation of an ancestral species into a descendant species of a different type, rather than by the gradual accumulation of small changes: The process of saltationism includes an unorthodox emphasis of evolutionary changes that is considered to be abnormal when compared to longer changes that usually take place.

Saltationism is generally not considered to be a method by which evolution occurs.