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
Newsom is eager to safeguard programs that have defined his tenure as the leader of the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.
—
Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Austin skipped over San Jose for the 12th most populous spot, as Texas' capital city surpassed 1 million residents for the first time.
—CBS News, 14 May 2026
Chicago retained its position as the nation’s third most populous city, after New York and Los Angeles, in 2025.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Texas has five of the 15 most populous cities in the United States.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
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Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Austin skipped over San Jose for the 12th most populous spot, as Texas' capital city surpassed 1 million residents for the first time.
—CBS News, 14 May 2026
Chicago retained its position as the nation’s third most populous city, after New York and Los Angeles, in 2025.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Texas has five of the 15 most populous cities in the United States.
—Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populous. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
populous
adjective
pop·u·lous
ˈpäp-yə-ləs
: having a large population
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