# population

/ˌpɑpjəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /pˌɒpjʊlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/population
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. people in a place

noun · CEFR A2

all the people who live in a particular town, area, or country.

For teachers: the total number of inhabitants living within a defined political or geographical boundary.

- The population of the city has grown quickly over the last ten years.
- Government officials are concerned that the aging population will place an unprecedented strain on the national healthcare system over the coming decades.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific location.

### 2. a specific group

noun · CEFR B1

a particular group of people or animals that share a certain characteristic.

For teachers: a subset of people or organisms distinguished by a specific shared trait or condition.

- Scientists are studying the local population of sea turtles to help protect them.
- The research focused exclusively on the student population, ignoring the broader demographic shifts occurring in the surrounding urban area.

Usage: Commonly followed by 'of' to specify the group, such as 'a population of birds'.

### 3. statistics

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

the whole group of people or things that a researcher wants to study.

For teachers: the entire pool from which a statistical sample is drawn and to which the results are meant to apply.

- The researchers picked a small group to represent the whole population.
- To ensure the validity of the study, the sample must be truly representative of the entire population being analyzed.

Usage: In this context, 'population' refers to the total set of data, not just people.

### 4. filling data

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of filling a list, table, or database with information.

For teachers: the process of supplying or filling a collection, database, or interface with data.

- The population of the database took several hours because there was so much information.
- Automated scripts handled the population of the new system fields, significantly reducing the risk of manual entry errors.

Usage: Often used as a verbal noun describing a technical process.

## Examples

- The population of the city is growing quickly.
- Government officials are worried about the aging population and how it will affect the healthcare system.
- While the urban population continues to expand, rural communities are facing a steady decline as younger generations move away in search of better employment opportunities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.