Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

overpopulation

/ˌoʊvɚˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.71 in modern English

Syllables: over-pop-u-lat-ion
IPA: /ˌoʊvɚˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/

21

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

6

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An excessive number of occupants (people, animals, plants, etc.) in a particular area; specifically, when the number of occupants exceeds the ability of that area to provide for them.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"I hope for another end, though not, indeed, from any of the three remedies for over-population commonly suggested by economists. These three are, in brief—Colonization; Bringing in of waste lands; or Discouragement of Marriage."
"Over the whole extent of the South Seas, from one tropic to another, we find traces of a bygone state of over-population, when the resources of even a tropical soil were taxed, and even the improvident Polynesian trembled for the future."
"When it comes to overpopulation as the cause of wildlife loss in Africa, Prince William just won't let it go."

Etymology

From over- (prefix meaning ‘excessive; excessively’) + population.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌoʊvɚˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
British English: /ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃn̩/

Usage

Inflected Forms

overpopulations (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

overpopulate overpopulated overpopulous

Antonyms

underpopulation

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization nation location application

Questions

How do you pronounce overpopulation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/.
What does overpopulation mean?: An excessive number of occupants (people, animals, plants, etc.) in a particular area; specifically, when the number of occupants exceeds the ability of that area to provide for them.
Where does overpopulation come from?: From over- (prefix meaning ‘excessive; excessively’) + population.

How to pronounce overpopulation

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