population explosion

noun

: a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population
especially : the recent great increase in human numbers resulting from increased survival and exponential population growth

Examples of population explosion in a Sentence

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.
The 1965 book with Beard’s photos of elephants on the Serengeti alerted the world to the destruction of their habitat amid the population explosion. — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026 Though snakes are challenged by cold weather, neither cold snaps nor millions of dollars in removal efforts have stopped their population explosion and range expansion. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026 Weekly plant checks and proper watering can help prevent population explosions. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 20 May 2026 Thanks to the population explosion in asylums in the 1800s, doctors were finally able to observe vast numbers of mad patients, classify them, and document the results of interventions. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for population explosion

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of population explosion was in 1903

Rhymes for population explosion

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Browse Nearby Words

population dynamics
population explosion
populationist
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Cite this Entry

“Population explosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/population%20explosion. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

population explosion

noun
: a pyramiding of numbers of a biological population
especially : the recent great increase in human numbers resulting from both increased survival and exponential population growth

More from Merriam-Webster on population explosion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about population explosion

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