population explosion

American  

noun

1. the rapid increase in numbers of a particular species, especially in the world's human population since the end of World War II, attributed to an accelerating birthrate, a decrease in infant mortality, and an increase in life expectancy.

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population explosion British  

noun

1. a rapid increase in the size of a population caused by such factors as a sudden decline in infant mortality or an increase in life expectancy

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Etymology

Origin of population explosion

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

She added that it was unlikely there would be a population explosion as wildcats live in low density numbers over wider areas and they would be closely monitored and managed.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025

With the expansion of the area’s wetlands in 2021, it saw a population explosion.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 21, 2023

Beasley attributes the population explosion to a few explanations, including humans illegally moving wild pigs to the areas where hunting them is legal year-round, as well as to warmer climates in recent decades.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2023

Their absence disrupted predator-and-prey relationships throughout the nation and resulted in a population explosion of deer and elk.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Perhaps those cycles of colonization, adaptation, and population explosion were what selected for the Great Leap Forward, which then diffused back westward to Eurasia and Africa.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond