law of diminishing returns

C1formal

An economic principle stating that as investment in a particular area increases, the rate of profit or benefit from that investment eventually decreases, assuming other factors remain constant.

Gesetz des abnehmenden Ertrags

• The company experienced the law of diminishing returns after hiring too many managers.
• Adding more fertilizer to the field showed the law of diminishing returns; crop yields barely increased.
• In software development, the law of diminishing returns applies when adding more programmers to a late project.

General principle of decreasing benefitB2informal

A broader concept that beyond a certain point, each additional unit of effort, resource, or input yields a smaller increase in output or satisfaction.

Gesetz vom abnehmenden Ertragszuwachs

• Studying for more than six hours a day shows the law of diminishing returns; you stop retaining information.
• Eating more of your favorite food eventually hits the law of diminishing returns; it stops tasting as good.
• The law of diminishing returns applies to exercise; working out for three hours isn't twice as beneficial as working out for one hour.