overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

: 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

By removing cheetahs from their natural habitat, local communities are fostering overpopulation of hares and promoting overgrazing, which most likely causes erosion in the region. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

After decades of neglect, the BLM is starting to address overpopulations of wild horses and burros on its Western rangelands. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation. —Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024

But Malthusian predictions of overpopulation have not been borne out: fertility rates gradually declined in many parts of the world even as living standards improved. —Philip Coggan, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion -ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: 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 

: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash

overpopulated

-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt-əd 

adjective