-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
population explosion
noun
: a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population
especially
: the recent great increase in human numbers resulting from increased survival and exponential population growth
Examples of population explosion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If the lanternfly’s proliferation continues, homeowners are likely to regard them as a nuisance, similar in annoyance level to a stinkbug population explosion, Martinson said.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2024
As a population explosion is poised to happen around the equator, where the effects of climate change will be harshest, a protein that grows in extreme environments could be critical.
—Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
After World War II, the Norwegian government — looking to secure a homegrown supply of steel — built a large state-run ironworks in Mo i Rana, bringing jobs and a population explosion with it.
—Ana Swanson Thomas Ekström, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024
That bottleneck and population explosion is also recorded in the DNA, his team found [Science News].
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 5 June 2010
The Roman Catholic Church is responsible for the population explosion.
—Joel E Cohen, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Their absence disrupted predator-and-prey relationships throughout the nation and resulted in a population explosion of deer and elk.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023
Ray Lang, Amtrak’s senior director for national state relations, said in a presentation last September that the rail operator's network has not grown along with the population explosion in certain parts the country, including the famed Texas triangle, which includes the state's major cities.
—Peter Rasmussen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2021
These granaries led to rodent population explosions.
—Jonathan Losos, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'population explosion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1903, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of population explosion was
in 1903
Dictionary Entries Near population explosion
Cite this Entry
“Population explosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/population%20explosion. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
population explosion
noun
: a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population
especially
: the recent great increase in human numbers resulting from both increased survival and exponential population growth
More from Merriam-Webster on population explosion
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about population explosion
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share