population

noun

Save Word

pop·u·la·tion | \ ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən

Definition of population

1a : the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region

b : the total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole

c : the total of particles at a particular energy level —used especially of atoms in a laser

2 : the act or process of populating

3a : a body of persons or individuals having a quality or characteristic in common

b(1) : the organisms inhabiting a particular locality

(2) : a group of interbreeding organisms that represents the level of organization at which speciation begins

4 : a group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples are taken for statistical measurement

Other Words from population Example Sentences Learn More about population

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of population in a Sentence

The world's population has increased greatly. The city has experienced an increase in population. There has been a sharp reduction in the bat population in this region. the rural population of America

Recent Examples on the Web According to the state, 785,025 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 619,098 — 38.3% of the county’s population 16 and older — are fully vaccinated. — Tom Steele, Dallas News, "Dallas County reports 8 coronavirus deaths, including a man in his 20s and another in his 30s," 11 May 2021 Latinos make up about 39% of the population but about 47% of COVID-19-related deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health data. — Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, "New website debunks COVID-19 vaccine myths and urges hesitant Latinos to get the shot," 11 May 2021 As of May 8, over 300,000 people in the Maldives had received at least one dose of a vaccine and 35% of the population had received two, according to the Health Protection Agency. — Time, "COVID-19 Is Surging in the World’s Most Vaccinated Nation," 11 May 2021 Ferrer said it’s unclear exactly what percentage of the population would need to have immunity from vaccination or prior infection, but suggested the figure is approximately 80%. — Kayla Rivas, Fox News, "LA County could see coronavirus herd immunity by July: health official," 11 May 2021 Their small all-volunteer military draws from less than 1 percent of the population, with many service members coming from military families. — John Hillen, National Review, "Internal Memo to Beijing: China’s Competitive Advantage against America," 11 May 2021 Those age 60 and over now make up 18.70% of the population, an increase of 5.44 percentage points since 2010. — Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, "China’s population still growing, census shows—but barely," 11 May 2021 In addition, Mills said Maine is the oldest state in the nation, with more than 20 percent of the population over the age of 65. — BostonGlobe.com, "Baker lauds Mass. vaccine effort during virtual meeting with Biden and governors," 11 May 2021 Teens lag the rest of the population in being vaccinated. — Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, "When you can sign up your 12- to 15-year-old to get the COVID vaccine," 11 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'population.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.