Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
Malthusian [mal-thoo-zhuh n, -zee-uh n] ExamplesWord Origin adjective
- of or relating to the theories of T. R. Malthus, which state that population tends to increase faster, at a geometrical ratio, than the means of subsistence, which increases at an arithmetical ratio, and that this will result in an inadequate supply of the goods supporting life unless war, famine, or disease reduces the population or the increase of population is checked.
noun
- a follower of Malthus.
Origin of Malthusian First recorded in 1805–15; Malthus + -ian Related formsMal·thu·sian·ism, nounan·ti-Mal·thu·si·an, adjective, nounan·ti-Mal·thu·si·an·ism, nounnon-Mal·thu·si·an, adjective, noun Examples from the Web for malthusian Contemporary Examples of malthusian
Orwellian, Malthusian, barbarous, depraved…I think you get me.
Conservatives Find Typo in Obamacare, Try to Kill People With It
Michael Tomasky
July 22, 2014
And despite all the Malthusian nonsense, we’ve still got plenty of oil and natural gas, reports the National Journal’s Amy Harder.
Peak Oil Still Isn’t Real, You Guys
Justin Green
April 30, 2013
In the thousands of years before the Industrial Revolution, civilization was stuck in the Malthusian Trap.
Ryan Prior
June 26, 2012
Workers responded by laboring harder and longer and bearing more children in a desperate attempt to outrun their Malthusian trap.
David Frum
February 8, 2012
In my fantasy I am not simply wasting my final nights with fruitless, Malthusian ramblings.
The Extinction Parade: An Original Zombie Story by Max Brooks
Max Brooks
January 14, 2011
Historical Examples of malthusian
It was this experience which gave shape to his Malthusian theories.
The English Utilitarians, Volume II (of 3)
Leslie Stephen
For some time past infanticide has been common in China as a Malthusian check.
Frank Fox
In this way the state is also subject to the Malthusian law.
Frederic Bastiat
This is not to say that Malthusian methods are also condemned.
Race Improvement : or, Eugenics : a Little Book on a Great Subject
La Reine Helen Baker
I shall be no Malthusian, as you certainly have shown yourself.
W. Gilmore Simms
British Dictionary definitions for malthusian Malthusian adjective
- of or relating to the theory of Malthus stating that increases in population tend to exceed increases in the means of subsistence and that therefore sexual restraint should be exercised
noun
- a supporter of this theory
Derived FormsMalthusianism, noun Word Origin and History for malthusian Malthusian n.
1812, from the teachings of English economist Thomas R. Malthus (1766-1835), especially with regard to population increase. As an adjective by 1818. Related: Malthusianism.