ENGLISH
REFERENCE

populous

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɑpjəɫəs// UK //pˈɒpjʊləs// pop·u·lous

adj. having a lot of people living in it. You use this to describe a city, country, or area with a high population.

adj. containing a large number of inhabitants; densely inhabited. Often used in comparative contexts to rank geographical or political entities by size.


SIMPLE

Tokyo is one of the most populous cities in the world.

CONTEXTUAL

As the country becomes more populous, the government must invest more in public transport and housing.

COMPLEX

The coastal regions remain the most populous parts of the continent, while the arid interior remains largely unsettled due to the lack of reliable water sources.

Origin

First used in English in the mid 15th century; from Latin populosus (“full of people, populous”).

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'is' or 'become'.

Pitfall

The city is very population.The city is very populous.Learners often confuse the noun 'population' with the adjective 'populous'.

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