eugenics
noun/juːˈd͡ʒɛnɪks/
Etymology Coined by Francis Galton in 1883. From ἐΰς (eǘs, “good”) + γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “breeding”), “well-bred”, “good in stock”. Parallel to Eugene. By surface analysis, eugenic + -s.
1
Biology, Human sciences, Natural sciences, Sciences, Social science, Sociology A social philosophy or practice which advocates the improvement of human hereditary qualities through selective breeding, either by encouraging people with superior genetic qualities to reproduce (positive eugenics), or discouraging people with inferior genetic qualities from reproducing (negative eugenics), or by technological means.
- In keeping with the goals of the new eugenics movement, McCulloch was claiming to offer scientific evidence of the incorrigibility of poor rural whites.2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 77:
- The eugenics mania that swept the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to forced sterilizations and the passage of laws in 27 states designed to limit the numbers of those considered genetically unfit: immigrants, Jews, African-Americans, the mentally ill and those deemed “morally delinquent.”2018 October 16, John Blake, “When Americans tried to breed a better race: How a genetic fitness ‘crusade’ marches on”, in CNN:
- Derived terms
- antieugenics, consumer eugenics, Eugene, eugenic, eugenically, eugenicide, eugenicist, eugenocide, in vitro eugenics, liberal eugenics, negative eugenics, neo-eugenics, new eugenics, positive eugenics, progeny, stealth eugenics, techno-eugenics
- Related terms
- human enhancement, reprogenetics, stirpiculture, well-born, well-bred