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

But despite ongoing arguments over crime and public safety in Missouri’s fourth most populous city, most reports never list Columbia anywhere near the most dangerous cities in Missouri. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025

Shenzhen, China’s third most populous city and a major financial hub, was under a shelter-in-place order yesterday, but that has now been lifted. —Claire Cameron, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2025

On Tuesday, mainland Chinese officials elevated the typhoon emergency response to Level III in Guangdong, the country’s most populous province, at more than 125 million people, as well as in the island province of Hainan. —Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025

While Northern Kentucky counties, including Boone and Kenton, are some of the most populous in the district, Watson said Shelby and Oldham counties have had higher voter turnouts in past primaries. —Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 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