population

noun

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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 Phrases Containing population Learn More About population

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 After growing steadily for 60 years, the city’s population shrank by 0.4% and 0.9% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, according to Hong Kong’s census bureau. — Clay Chandler, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 While much of the population in the area is anti-Sandinista, Ortega’s party won local elections in Rio Blanco in 2017 in what the opposition called a fraud. — Gabriela Selser, ajc, 4 Aug. 2022 Of the population of 195,000, 98% are fully vaccinated. — Johanna Read, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 The UN World Food Programme estimates 92% of the population faces some level of food insecurity and 3 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. — Paulina Smolinski, CBS News, 2 Aug. 2022 The city of Pella’s population, however, has been little changed for decades, and some residents fear changes brought by Pella, the company, could wreck what makes the small city special. — WSJ, 1 Aug. 2022 Richmond Hill, home to a robust South Asian community and the city’s largest Sikh population, was added to the district, which now has a notably higher share of Asians and Hispanics. — New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 The city’s Black population also declined, at 2,697 residents. — al, 1 Aug. 2022 Global health authorities have grappled with the risk of stigmatizing members of the community or downplaying the risk to the wider population. — Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 30 July 2022 See More

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.