— Malthusianism , n.
/mal thooh"zheuhn, -zee euhn/ , adj.
1. of or pertaining 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.
n.
2. a follower of Malthus.
[ 1805-15; MALTHUS + -IAN ]