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diminishing returns

plural noun

Definition of diminishing returns

  1. 1 :  a rate of yield that beyond a certain point fails to increase in proportion to additional investments of labor or capital

  2. 2 :  benefits that beyond a certain point fail to increase in proportion to extended efforts

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First Known Use of diminishing returns

1815

Learn More about diminishing returns

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diminishing returns

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