overpopulate

[ oh-ver-pop-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˌoʊ vərˈpɒp yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), o·ver·pop·u·lat·ed, o·ver·pop·u·lat·ing.

to fill with an excessive number of people, straining available resources and facilities: Expanding industry has overpopulated the western suburbs.

Origin of overpopulate

First recorded in 1865–70; over- + populate

OTHER WORDS FROM overpopulate

o·ver·pop·u·la·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for overpopulation

British Dictionary definitions for overpopulation

overpopulation
/ (ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən) /

noun

the population of an area in too large numbers

Scientific definitions for overpopulation

overpopulation
[ ō′vər-pŏp′yə-lāshən ]

The population of an environment by a particular species in excess of the environment's carrying capacity. The effects of overpopulation can include the depletion of resources, environmental deterioration, and the prevalence of famine and disease.