eugenist

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical: an advocate or practitioner of eugenics, the discredited program of attempting to control human reproduction according to supposed hereditary quality

   Many early twentieth-century eugenists promoted coercive policies that violated reproductive and disability rights.

Formed in the early twentieth century from eugenics plus -ist. Francis Galton coined eugenics in 1883 from Greek eugenes, 'well-born,' built from eu-, 'good,' and genos, 'birth or stock.' Eugenist was an early name for an advocate before eugenicist became more usual.

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