underpopulated
|un-der-pop-u-lat-ed|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈpɑːpjəˌleɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈpɒpjʊˌleɪtɪd/
(underpopulate)
low population density
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underpopulated' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' and the word 'populate' from Latin 'populus' meaning 'people'.
Historical Evolution
'underpopulated' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'populate', which was derived from Latin 'populus'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having fewer people than needed', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a lower population density than is considered normal or desirable.
The rural area is underpopulated compared to the bustling city.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45