Is evolution a theory

Answer 1

Yes, by definition evolution is a theory (hence it is called the 'theory of evolution').

Despite what some would try to argue, this is not a statement against evolution's credibility and the concepts involved. Rather, it is a statement of complete and unanimous support by the scientific community, which finds evolution to be the simplest and most logical explanation for the phenomena involved, as well as fitting the evidence, providing predictions which can be tested and passing all tests that ever attempted to break it.

Another answer

It is also a hypothesis, a fact and a process, and none of these are a problem either.

However, as much as some would like to see this as a problem, we must first note what a theory is. In scientific terms, a theory is a hypothesis which has been experimentally confirmed, has made accurate predictions about phenomena, accommodates all known facts about the subject, and is widely accepted as correct.

We must contrast this definition with that often used by those who don't understand it; in that case, a theory would be more correctly referred to by the term hypothesis, which is an explanation of something but which has yet to be experimentally confirmed.

So in basic terms, a theory is an idea which - after a lot of testing and experimentation and criticism and debate - has been determined to fit all the facts, explain those facts consistently, and make reliable predictions.

In short, it's about as close as you can get to certainty. The vast majority of the scientific community - about 99.9% of all qualified scientists - accept it as such. There is no better explanation of how life on earth came to be the way it is now.