##  [Law of Diminishing Returns](/law-diminishing-returns) 

  ##  [Law of Diminishing Returns](https://engineering.quantumdictionary.io/law-diminishing-returns-0) 

  

 [![Engineering & Applied Technologies Dictionary](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-01/Engineering%20%26%20Applied%20Technologies.png.webp?itok=_IKO7_-n)](/topic-specific-dictionaries/engineering-applied-technologies)



**Engineering & Applied Technologies Dictionary**

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Definition

An economic and operational principle stating that, in the short run when at least one input is held constant, adding incremental units of a single variable input will beyond some point yield progressively smaller increases in output (declining marginal product).

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



 ##  [Law of Diminishing Returns](https://social.quantumdictionary.io/law-diminishing-returns-1) 

  

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**Social Sciences Dictionary**

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Definition

In a production process with at least one fixed input, adding successive increments of a variable input eventually yields smaller increments in output per additional unit of that variable input; the law describes short‑run marginal product behavior under fixed technology and fixed complementary inputs.