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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fly population explosion is due to warm, humid weather and westerly winds that have pushed the pests out of the marshes, experts say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 This influx of diversity triggered a population explosion and a culinary one, too. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Unsurprisingly, there was a massive population explosion in the postwar era, and that led to the start of the antigrowth movement. — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026 The high desert has seen a population explosion over the past few decades thanks to its relatively cheap housing compared to Los Angeles. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for population explosion

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of population explosion was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Population explosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/population%20explosion. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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

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