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
In just the past twenty years, its population has grown from 141 million to over 250 million, making Pakistan the fifth most populous country in the world.
—
Bryan Penprase, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
India is now the most populous country in the world.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In 2020, when Covid-19 was at its worst in the nation’s most populous city, many neighborhoods fired up loudspeakers around 7 p.m. to provide a musical tribute and cheers to New York’s first responders.
—Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
New York City New York City has nine Chinatowns of varying sizes, and the one in Flushing, Queens, is the largest in New York State and the world’s most populous.
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
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Bryan Penprase, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
India is now the most populous country in the world.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In 2020, when Covid-19 was at its worst in the nation’s most populous city, many neighborhoods fired up loudspeakers around 7 p.m. to provide a musical tribute and cheers to New York’s first responders.
—Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025
New York City New York City has nine Chinatowns of varying sizes, and the one in Flushing, Queens, is the largest in New York State and the world’s most populous.
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for populous
Dictionary Entries Near populous
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
populous
adjective
pop·u·lous
ˈpäp-yə-ləs
: having a large population
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