overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash

Examples of overpopulation in a Sentence

He is studying the problem of deer overpopulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s also seemingly kept most of the city’s residents stupid enough not to realize that they’re not really getting reborn at all, just killed off to fight overpopulation. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026

Costa Mesa may soon support feral cats being caught, fixed and released back onto the city’s streets, a practice that advocates say is critical to curbing feline overpopulation. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026

Lucky Dawg's goal is to capture and neuter both mother cats to help prevent further litters of homeless cats and pet overpopulation. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Measures to address the overpopulation of feral hogs A variety of policies and actions have been taken in Texas, with varying degrees of success. —Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overpopulation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion -ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having too many people living in a certain area

Medical Definition

overpopulation

noun

over·​pop·​u·​la·​tion ˌō-vər-ˌpäp-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash

overpopulated

-ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt-əd 

adjective