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Synonyms

overpopulation

British  
/ ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. the population of an area in too large numbers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
overpopulation Scientific  
/ ō′vər-pŏp′yə-lā′shən /

  1. The population of an environment by a particular species in excess of the environment's carrying capacity. The effects of overpopulation can include the depletion of resources, environmental deterioration, and the prevalence of famine and disease.

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.

Chinese authorities have rolled out pronatalist incentives after ending its one-child policy -- which had been in place for more than three decades to address poverty and overpopulation.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

In our own day, overpopulation pessimism has given way to very real worries that we aren’t replacing ourselves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

Delhi-based biodiversity expert Faiyaz Khudsar says easy availability of food has led to overpopulation of pigeons in many countries.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2025

His government argues that a bear overpopulation problem has led to the attacks.

From BBC • May 28, 2025

The fall has been laid at the door of overpopulation, overuse of natural resources, and drought.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.