overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce overpopulation (audio)
: 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
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.
By Aidan McGloin, CalMatters Correctional officers at the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Norco have started writing Attorney General Rob Bonta to to keep the prison open, presenting it as an option to alleviate the overpopulation in county jails. Calmatters, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025 While routine spaying and neutering are widely accepted for reducing pet overpopulation, a growing body of research is prompting experts to advise more personalized decisions. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the hunt have claimed that overpopulation of the bears has caused a nuisance in local communities and that a regulated hunt is needed to regulate their population. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 13 Aug. 2025 Until then, ADUs were banned citywide, due to 1957 vintage zoning codes designed to reduce the risk of overpopulation. David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overpopulation

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overpopulation was in 1802

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Cite this Entry

“Overpopulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpopulation. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

overpopulation

noun
over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion -ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce overpopulation (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce overpopulation (audio)
: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash
overpopulated adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on overpopulation

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