overpopulation

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ˌoʊ.vərˈpɒp.jʊ.leɪ.ʃən/

KK: /oʊvərˌpɑpjuˈleɪʃən/

noun

Definition

A situation where there are too many people living in a certain area, leading to problems like crowded living conditions and a lack of resources.

Example

Overpopulation can lead to serious environmental issues and a strain on resources.

Conversation

Have you read about the issue of overpopulation in cities lately?

Yeah, it's getting really concerning, especially in urban areas.

I wonder what solutions they might come up with to address overpopulation.

Hopefully something effective, because it's affecting our quality of life.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

crowding

congestion

overcrowding

Antonyms

depopulation

decline

reduction

Root Explanation

Overpopulation → It is formed from "over-" (meaning excessively) and "population" (from Latin "populatio", meaning the act of populating or the number of people). The word refers to a situation where the number of people exceeds the capacity of the environment to support them.

Memory Tip

Think of 'over-' meaning excessively, and 'population' referring to the number of people. This helps you remember that overpopulation means there are too many people for the area to support.

Visually Confused Words

repopulation