populous
Americanadjective
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full of residents or inhabitants, as a region; heavily populated.
-
jammed or crowded with people.
There's no more populous place than Times Square on New Year's Eve.
-
forming or comprising a large number or quantity.
Because of epidemics the tribes are not nearly so populous as they once were.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of populous
1400–50; late Middle English populus < Latin populōsus. See people, -ous
Explanation
A populous place is full of people. If you left your cabin in the Maine woods to spend the weekend in New York City, you'd be particularly aware of how populous the city is. Anything that's dense with people can be described as populous, like the country of China or the city of Mumbai or even a crowded airport. Populous is a Latin word that means simply "people." It was adopted by English in the 15th century to mean "full of people." The adjective populous is easy to confuse with the noun populace, "the people who live in a country," especially since they are homonyms, or words that sound exactly the same.
Vocabulary lists containing populous
Much Ado: Synonyms for "Many"
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We the People: Popul
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"Othello" by William Shakespeare, Act IV-V
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The French distiller behind Absolut vodka and Jameson whiskey said Thursday that sales in the world’s most populous nation rose 19% on year between July and September, the first quarter of the group’s fiscal year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The commission, which oversees voting in the world's most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
Of the 10 most populous states, Texas and New York confirmed that they provide security for their attorneys general, while Florida law allows its top lawyer to receive a detail upon request.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—On a recent Wednesday morning, Judge Stefan Underhill and a collection of lawyers gathered in the federal courthouse in Connecticut’s most populous city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Spain, unlike Norway, was rich and populous enough to support exploration and subsidize colonies.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
