overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash

Examples of overpopulation in a Sentence

He is studying the problem of deer overpopulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

While Sheep focuses on environmental devastation, Stand delves into a wider range of subjects; AI, genetic engineering, hobby terrorism and pop culture, against the broad backdrop of overpopulation. —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

These estimates have evolved from the days when overpopulation fears were rampant. —Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025

The latter goes back to the nonprofit’s founding mission to make pet care more accessible as a means of preventing pet homelessness and shelter overpopulation. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025

Barbados has lost most of its natural forest to human overpopulation, putting the Barbados threadsnake at risk. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpopulation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion -ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having too many people living in a certain area

Medical Definition

overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash

overpopulated

-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt-əd 

adjective