population
population
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "population" is: /ˌpɒp.jʊˈleɪʃən/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
pop: /pɒp/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
u: /jʊ/
/j/ - palatal approximant
/ʊ/ - near-close near-back rounded vowel
la: /leɪ/
/leɪ/ - l followed by a diphthong of e and i
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant
/eɪ/ - diphthong from mid-front unrounded vowel to near-close front unrounded vowel.
tion: /ʃən/
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative
/ə/ - mid-central vowel (schwa)
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular:
"population" (e.g., "the population of the city")
Plural:
"populations" (e.g., "various populations of wildlife")
Additionally, it's important to note related forms:
Related adjective:
"populational" (e.g., "populational studies")
Related verb:
"populate" (e.g. "to populate an area")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun: Population
Definition 1:
The total number of individuals inhabiting a specific area, region, or group.
Example: "The population of the city has grown significantly in recent years."
Synonyms: inhabitants, residents, community, populace, citizenry, demographic, headcount.
Antonyms: emptiness, vacancy, void, absence.
Definition 2:
A distinct group of individuals, animals, or plants sharing common characteristics or living in a particular area.
Example: "Scientists studied the various populations of fish in the lake."
Synonyms: group, set, stock, strain, breed, species.
Antonyms: individual, singleton.
Verb: Populate
Definition 1:
To inhabit or fill an area with people, animals, or things.
Example: "Early settlers began to populate the coastal regions."
Synonyms: inhabit, occupy, dwell, settle, colonize, people.
Antonyms: vacate, abandon, depopulate, evacuate.
Definition 2:
To supply with inhabitants.
Example: "The company decided to populate the new offices with skilled workers."
Synonyms: supply, furnish, stock, fill.
Antonyms: empty, deplete.
Adjective: Populational
Definition 1:
Relating to or concerning a population or populations.
Example: "The research focused on populational trends in the region."
Synonyms: demographic, communal, societal, collective.
Antonyms: individual, singular, personal.
Examples of Use
1. News and Online Publications:
Demographic Reporting:
"The city has experienced an increase in population." (Various news sources)
"The aging population presents challenges for healthcare systems." (Health-related websites and journals)
"The results of a new survey of the U.S. population are due soon." (The Arizona Republic)
Environmental Concerns:
"Habitat loss because of the increasing human population and growth in agriculture has also contributed to the decline, the report said."1 (Collins Dictionary)
"There has been a sharp reduction in the bat population in this region." (Merriam-Webster)
Public Health:
"The best way to figure out how far and wide the virus has spread in a population is to look at blood." (Science | AAAS)
2. Books and Academic Texts:
In sociology and demography textbooks, "population" is a core concept, used to analyze trends, distributions, and changes in human societies.
Ecological studies frequently reference "population" when discussing animal or plant groups within specific habitats.
3. Entertainment Mediums:
Documentaries about nature often use "population" to describe animal groups: "The documentary followed the dwindling population of polar bears in the Arctic."
In science fiction, "population" may refer to the inhabitants of a planet or space station.
4. General Public Discourse:
Political discussions: "The candidate addressed the concerns of the rural population."
Urban planning: "The city council is discussing strategies to accommodate the growing population."
Everyday conversation: "The population of our neighborhood seems to be getting younger."
10 Famous Quotes Using Population
"The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man." - Thomas Malthus.1
"The human population is now so large that the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available." - David Attenborough.2
"Population growth is straining the earth's resources to the breaking point." - Jacques Cousteau.
"Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio." - Thomas Malthus.
"If we don't halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity- and will leave a ravaged world.”- Nobel Laureate Henry W. Kendall.3
"The raging monster upon the land is population growth. In its presence, sustainability is but a fragile theoretical concept.” - E.O. Wilson.4
"We must stabilise the population. This will be possible only if all nations recognise that it requires improved social and economic conditions and the adoption of a rational attitude towards population growth." - Lester R. Brown.5
"Child labour perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems.”- Kailash Satyarthi.
"Anyone who believes in indefinite growth of anything physical on a physically finite planet is either a madman or an economist.”-6 Kenneth Boulding.
"If the world is to save any part of its resources for the future, it must reduce not only consumption but the number of consumers.”- B.F. Skinner.7
Etymology
Where it Came From:
The word "population" comes from the Old French word "population," which meant "the people (of a place)."
That Old French word itself came from the Late Latin word "populationem," which meant "a multitude of people."
"Populationem" is derived from the latin verb "populare" which means "to people" or "to populate".
And, at the very root of it all, is the Latin word "populus," which simply means "people."
First Known Use and Meaning:
The word started to be used in English around the 15th century.
Initially, it kept its basic Latin meaning: a group of people living in a particular place.
Over time, the word's meaning expanded to include the total number of people in a given area, and also to include groups of animals or plants.
In essence:
Think of it like this:
"Populus" (Latin) = people.
"Populationem" (Late Latin) = a lot of people.
"Population" (Old French, and then English) = the people of a place, and later, the number of those people.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Population
"Population" is a very literal and statistical word, and it doesn't lend itself to many traditional idioms or colorful phrases. This is because it's a term used for precise measurement and description, not figurative language.
Here's why it's difficult and what we can do:
Lack of Figurative Nature: Idioms are usually built on metaphors and analogies. "Population" is straightforward and factual, which inhibits its use in that way.
However, we can explore some phrases and work with related concepts:
Phrases (More Literal):
Population density: (A common phrase referring to the number of people per unit area.)
Population growth/decline: (Standard phrases indicating changes in population size.)
Population demographics: (Referring to the statistical characteristics of a population.)
At risk population: (Referring to a group of people facing a higher than average probability of a negative event.)
A growing population: (Referring to the fact that the number of people in a certain area is increasing.)
Expanding with Synonyms and Related Concepts:
Since "population" is hard to work with, we can look at synonyms like "people" or related concepts like "community" to find idioms:
"People power": (An idiom meaning the power of collective action by ordinary people.)
"The people's voice": (Referring to public opinion.)
"Community spirit": (An idiom indicating a sense of belonging and cooperation within a group.)
"A sea of faces": (A phrase used to describe a large crowd of people.)
"The rank and file": (This is a phrase that refers to the general members of a population, or organization, as opposed to the leaders.)
Original Phrases:
"Population pressure": (This could be used to describe the strain on resources caused by a large population.)
"Population pulse": (Used to describe a rapid change in population numbers.)
While "population" itself doesn't offer many idioms, we can see the concept of "people" and "communities" is very present in the english language.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of population from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
