populous

adjective

pop·​u·​lous ˈpä-pyə-ləs 

1

a

: densely populated

b

: having a large population

2

a

: numerous

b

: filled to capacity

populously adverb

populousness noun

Did you know?

With a metropolitan area of more than 20 million people, Mexico City could be called the world's second or third most populous city. And the nearby Aztec city of Tenochtitlán was one of the largest cities in the world even when Hernán Cortés arrived there in 1519. But by the time Cortés conquered the city in 1521 it wasn't nearly so populous, since European diseases had greatly reduced the population. Avoid confusing populous and populace, which are pronounced exactly the same.

Examples of populous in a Sentence

the most populous state in the U.S.

Recent Examples on the Web

Terranea Cove Beach Rancho Palos Verdes is a coastal enclave in southern Los Angeles County that provides a slower pace than the city’s more populous hubs. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025

As the Garden State’s second most populous city (Newark is the top), Jersey City offers quick access for New York City commuters. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025

The phrase, which has been used by pro-Palestinian activists, has become a sticking point between Mamdani, the Democratic nominee to lead the nation’s most populous city, and parts of its Jewish community. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

In the world’s most populous nation, her gender may have been the reason. —Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English populous, populus, borrowed from Latin populōsus, from populus people entry 1 + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for populous

• populace
• populus

Kids Definition

populous

adjective

pop·​u·​lous ˈpäp-yə-ləs 

: having a large population