population

noun pop·u·la·tion \ ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of population

1 a : 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

3 a : 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

—

populational

play \ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See population defined for English-language learners

See population defined for kids

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 of population from the Web

France, which has been struck repeatedly by Islamic State fighters and sympathizers, will free 57 inmates — about half its current population of terrorism convicts.

— Fox News, "Europe's terror convicts gain freedom to improvised response," 11 May 2018
Despite population growth, the number of red blood-cell units used by hospitals in England has dropped from 2m a year 15 years ago to 1.4m now.

— The Economist, "Bans on paying for human blood distort a vital global market," 10 May 2018
Joanna Cloud, executive director of the Lake Lanier Association, is one of many studying why water decreases have such a high impact on the state of Georgia, and what population growth means for the future.

— noelle lashley, ajc, "AJC 360: Changing water levels of Lake Lanier," 2 May 2018
According to the United Nations, global water use has grown at more than twice the rate of human population growth over the last century.

— theresa laverty, Smithsonian, "Where Clean Drinking Water Is Hard To Find, Bats Could Lead the Way," 2 May 2018
Fanning’s also confident the legislation, which limits deductions for state and local income taxes, will eventually fuel population growth in Southern’s service territory.

— Bloomberg.com, "Tax Cut May Spur Southern's Sales for Years to Come, CEO Says," 2 May 2018
Technological improvements haven't kept up with population growth, the WHO said, resulting in about 3.8 million deaths from household pollution alone in 2016.

— jen christensen, CNN, "Which cities face most, least air pollution according to new WHO data," 1 May 2018
Logan’s Run,’’ a special effects-laden drama about a futuristic society that encourages hedonistic abandon by young people — until they are killed at age 30, to control population growth.

— adam bernstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Michael Anderson, 98, acclaimed director," 30 Apr. 2018
Alongside fellow photographer Jerry Burchfield, Chamberlain extensively photographed along Laguna Canyon Road, the city's main artery to and from the inland, portions of which remain only two lanes despite the area's population growth.

— bradley zint, latimes.com, "Mark Chamberlain, photographer, gallery owner and environmentalist known for the ‘Laguna Canyon Project,’ dies at 75," 26 Apr. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of population

Late Latin population-, populatio, from Latin populus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1612

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

POPULATION Defined for English Language Learners

population

noun

Definition of population for English Language Learners

: the number of people who live in a place
: a group of people or animals of a particular kind that live in a place

POPULATION Defined for Kids

population

noun pop·u·la·tion \ ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən \

Definition of population for Students

1 : the whole number of people living in a country, city, or area

2 : a group of people or animals living in a certain place

the deer population

Word Root of population

The Latin word populus, meaning “people,” gives us the root popul. Words from the Latin populus have something to do with people. A population is the group of people living in a particular place. Anything popular is common among or enjoyed by many people. A place that is populous has many people living in it.