Describes a process or change that proceeds step by step, often used in formal or technical contexts.
改革は漸進的に進められた。
The reforms were carried out gradually.
段階的 emphasizes progress through distinct, separate stages, while 漸進的 emphasizes a smooth, gradual advance that may not have clearly marked steps.
漸進的 describes slow, gradual, step-by-step progress, the opposite of 飛躍的, which describes a sudden, dramatic leap.
Compound of 漸進 (gradual progress) + 的 (-like, -ish). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of gradual advancement.