English Reference

Word

overpopulation

Phoneticsover·pop·u·la·tion

US/ˌoʊvɝˌpɑpjəˈɫeɪʃən/

UK/ˌəʊvəpˌɒpjʊlˈeɪʃən/

Definition

n. a situation where there are too many people or animals living in one area. This can cause problems like not enough food or space for everyone.

n. a condition in which the number of individuals in a population exceeds the carrying capacity of their environment. Often used in ecological or demographic contexts to describe resource depletion.

Examples

“Overpopulation in the city leads to crowded streets and long commutes.”

“The island's ecosystem is struggling because of overpopulation of rabbits that are eating all the local grass.”

“While some argue that overpopulation is the primary driver of environmental degradation, others point to the per capita consumption of resources as the more significant factor.”

Examples

simple

“Overpopulation in the city leads to crowded streets and long commutes.”

contextual

“The island's ecosystem is struggling because of overpopulation of rabbits that are eating all the local grass.”

complex

“While some argue that overpopulation is the primary driver of environmental degradation, others point to the per capita consumption of resources as the more significant factor.”

Domain

Biology

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/overpopulation

English Reference