eugenics

UK: /juːˈdʒɛnɪks/ US: (yo̅o̅ jen′iks)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

eu•gen•ics  (yo̅o̅ jen′iks), n. (used with a sing. v.)

1. Biology the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, esp. by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics.)

• see eugenic, -ics 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

eugenics / juːˈdʒɛnɪks/ noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of methods of improving the quality of the human race, esp by selective breeding

Etymology: 19th Century: from Greek eugenēs well-born, from eu- + -genēs born; see -gen

euˈgenic, euˈgenical adjective

euˈgenically adverb

euˈgenicist, euˈgenecist noun

eugenist / ˈjuːdʒənɪst/ noun , adjective