Jevons paradox

/ˈdʒɛvənz paɹədɒks/

proper noun

The proposition that technological progress that increases the efficiency with which a resource is used tends to increase (rather than decrease) the rate of consumption of that resource.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proper nounthe Jevons paradox

alternative Jevons' paradox

  1. economicsThe proposition that technological progress that increases the efficiency with which a resource is used tends to increase (rather than decrease) the rate of consumption of that resource.

    One well-known example is electricity usage, where the Jevons paradox explains how making appliances more energy efficient can backfire by stimulating demand.

    2019 November 1, Oliver Burkeman, “Not enough hours in the day? Well, finding more may not help”, in The Guardian

Origin

Named after English economist William Stanley Jevons (1835–1882).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Jevons paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Jevons%20paradox

MLA

“Jevons paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Jevons%20paradox. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Jevons paradox,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Jevons%20paradox.

Source: Jevons paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.