population
noun
pop·u·la·tion
ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 
1
a
: the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
b
: the total of individuals occupying an area or making up a whole
c
: the total of particles at a particular energy level
—used especially of atoms in a laser
2
: the act or process of populating
3
a
: a body of persons or individuals having a quality or characteristic in common
b(1)
: the organisms inhabiting a particular locality
(2)
: a group of interbreeding organisms that represents the level of organization at which speciation begins
4
: a group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples are taken for statistical measurement
Examples of population in a Sentence
The world's population has increased greatly.
The city has experienced an increase in population.
There has been a sharp reduction in the bat population in this region.
the rural population of America
Recent Examples on the Web
Approximately 127 million people or 40% of the U.S. population live in coastal communities.
—
Devika Rao, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024
This Is the Most Beautiful Town in Colorado Put These Beautiful National Monuments on Your Must-See List
In 1880 Leadville reached a peak population of 14,820, recorded in the city’s first official census.
—James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024
Currently about 65% of the U.S. population is in a state with legal betting.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Republicans have been dominant with them in the last 20 years, but with the growing Latino and Asian American populations, white voters have been on a sharp decline as a share of the electorate since the 1990s.
—Earl Carr, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for population 
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Devika Rao, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024
This Is the Most Beautiful Town in Colorado Put These Beautiful National Monuments on Your Must-See List
In 1880 Leadville reached a peak population of 14,820, recorded in the city’s first official census.
—James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024
Currently about 65% of the U.S. population is in a state with legal betting.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Republicans have been dominant with them in the last 20 years, but with the growing Latino and Asian American populations, white voters have been on a sharp decline as a share of the electorate since the 1990s.
—Earl Carr, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for population
Dictionary Entries Near population
Cite this Entry
“Population.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/population. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
population
noun
pop·u·la·tion
ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the whole number of people living in a country or region
2
: the act or process of populating
3
: a group of one or more species of organisms living in a particular area or habitat
Medical Definition
population
noun
pop·u·la·tion
ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
2
a
: a body of persons or individuals having a quality or characteristic in common
b(1)
: the organisms inhabiting a particular locality
(2)
: a group of interbreeding organisms that represents the level of organization at which speciation begins
3
: a group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples are taken for statistical measurement
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