dysgenic
adjective
dys·gen·ic
(ˌ)dis-ˈje-nik 
1
: tending to promote survival of or reproduction by less well-adapted individuals (such as the weak or diseased) especially at the expense of well-adapted individuals (such as the strong or healthy)
the dysgenic effect of war
2
: biologically defective or deficient
Examples of dysgenic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Such zones will be prevalent for traits that involve more complicated epistatic interactions, perhaps accounting for the dysgenic effects observed in F1s.
—
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2010
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2010
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dysgenic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near dysgenic
Cite this Entry
“Dysgenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysgenic. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
dysgenic
adjective
dys·gen·ic
variants
also disgenic
1
: tending to promote survival of or reproduction by less well-adapted individuals (as the weak or diseased) especially at the expense of well-adapted individuals (as the strong or healthy)
the dysgenic effect of war
2
: biologically defective or deficient
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share