Eugenics (Noun)
Meaning
The study of methods of improving genetic qualities by selective breeding (especially as applied to human mating).
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The government was accused of promoting eugenics by restricting the reproductive rights of certain minority groups.
- Eugenics was a popular idea in the early 20th century, with many people believing it could improve the human race.
- The Nazis took eugenics to an extreme during World War II, using forced sterilization and euthanasia to eliminate undesirable traits.
- Some people argue that modern reproductive technologies, such as genetic screening and in vitro fertilization, are a form of eugenics.
- Critics of eugenics argue that it is based on flawed assumptions about the role of genetics in shaping human traits and behaviors.