Darwin out means: To remove (a person) from the gene pool when they engage in foolish, thoughtless or reckless behavior.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Darwin out
(slang, humorous, somewhat, derogatory, somewhat, uncommon) To remove (a person) from the gene pool when they engage in foolish, thoughtless or reckless behavior.
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(slang, humorous, somewhat, derogatory, somewhat, uncommon) To remove (a person) from the gene pool when they engage in foolish, thoughtless or reckless behavior.
Let's face it, it's just not possible. A guy like that in The Bronx could never make it to the age where he could get a license. He'd be Darwinned-out before he was twelve.
Origin: An allusion to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Darwin out means: To remove (a person) from the gene pool when they engage in foolish, thoughtless or reckless behavior.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
Darwin out means: To remove (a person) from the gene pool when they engage in foolish, thoughtless or reckless behavior.. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: hedging
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "Darwin out" (D)
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