Malthus

English

Proper noun

Malthus

1. A rare surname from Middle English derived from the Middle English word for malthouse.
2. Thomas Malthus, English demographer and political economist, who proposed the view that population growth always exceeds the growth of the necessary food supply.
   • 1831, Thomas Carlyle, “Helotage”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book third, page 156:

     Enough for us to understand that Heuschrecke is a disciple of Malthus ; and so zealous for the doctrine, that his zeal almost literally eats him up.

Derived terms

• Malthusian
• Malthusianism