populous

American  

[pop-yuh-luhs] / ˈpɒp yə ləs /

adjective

1. full of residents or inhabitants, as a region; heavily populated.

2. jammed or crowded with people.

   There's no more populous place than Times Square on New Year's Eve.

   Synonyms:

   teeming, packed

3. forming or comprising a large number or quantity.

   Because of epidemics the tribes are not nearly so populous as they once were.

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populous British  

/ ˈpɒpjʊləs /

adjective

1. containing many inhabitants; abundantly populated

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Other Word Forms

• nonpopulous adjective
• nonpopulously adverb
• nonpopulousness noun
• overpopulous adjective
• overpopulously adverb
• overpopulousness noun
• populously adverb
• populousness noun
• unpopulous adjective
• unpopulously adverb
• unpopulousness noun

Etymology

Origin of populous

1400–50; late Middle English populus < Latin populōsus. See people, -ous

Example Sentences

India's 16th census - the eighth since independence in 1947 - will also include caste data and is seen as crucial for policy, welfare delivery and political representation in the world's most populous country.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Cotality continues to have transaction delays from the recording office in Wayne County, the most populous county in the Detroit metro area, the survey said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Now those plans are on hold as her budget is eaten up buying petrol to power up generators to run her sewing machines after fuel prices jumped about 20 percent in Africa's most populous country.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

The world’s most populous country is looking at how it can become an artificial-intelligence power without breaking the bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The empire was as populous, rich, and well organized as any in history.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• crowded
• numerous
• populated
• various