Malthusian

American  

[mal-thoo-zhuhn, -zee-uhn] / mælˈθu ʒən, -zi ən /

adjective

1. 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.

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noun

1. a follower of Malthus.

Malthusian British  

/ mælˈθjuːzɪən /

adjective

1. 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

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noun

1. a supporter of this theory

Other Word Forms

• Malthusianism noun
• anti-Malthusian adjective
• anti-Malthusianism noun
• non-Malthusian adjective
• pro-Malthusian adjective
• pro-Malthusianism noun

Etymology

Origin of Malthusian

First recorded in 1805–15; Malthus + -ian

Example Sentences

His simple idea—that ordinary human beings are “the ultimate resource”—challenged the Malthusian notion that population growth leads to shortages and, ultimately, famine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

Others sounded the alarm about global overpopulation, resurrecting Malthusian fears about the human population growing faster than our food sources can sustain us.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023

But as a wave of economic liberalization swept through India in the late 1980s, the Malthusian nightmare never materialized.

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023

At the World Economic Forum, organizers tried their best to change the gloomy Malthusian narrative about aging.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2023

As new Malthusian limits were imposed—diseases, famines, parasites—new breeds gained a stronghold, and the population shifted again.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee