population
In a demographic sense, the term describes a static count or a dynamic trend of inhabitants within a defined boundary. It often serves as a primary metric for urban planning, resource allocation, and ecological health, shifting from a simple head-count to a complex analysis of growth rates and density. In the realm of statistics and research, the term takes on a more abstract meaning. Here, it refers to the complete set of elements from which a sample is drawn, meaning the population could consist of lightbulbs, test scores, or specific genotypes rather than living organisms.
Used as a countable noun when referring to different groups.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
growing population
a population that is increasing in size
The growing population requires more housing.
dense population
a high number of people in a small area
Tokyo has an incredibly dense population.
target population
the specific group a study aims to analyze
The target population for the survey was adults aged 18 to 25.
population density
the measurement of people per unit of area
The population density of the city is overwhelming.
global population
the total number of humans on Earth
The global population has surpassed eight billion.