replacement
ree-PLAY-smuhnt
/rɪˈpleɪsmənt/
The action or process of replacing someone or something; in demography, the fertility rate needed to keep population stable without migration.
In demography, 'replacement level fertility' is strictly defined as roughly 2.1 children per woman in developed countries.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'replacer', combining 're-' (back or again) and 'place' (location). Demographers adopted it to describe replacing dying generations with newborn ones.
Word relationships
- substitution: Substitution refers to replacing an item with an equivalent; replacement in demography specifically means maintaining population balance.
Commonly confused with
- displacement: Displacement is forcing someone out of position; replacement is filling an open position.
Word family
- replace (verb): To take the place of or provide a substitute for.
- replaceable (adjective): Capable of being replaced.
Collocations
- replacement level
- replacement fertility
- replacement rate
Example sentences
- "When a country's birthrate falls below the replacement level of 2.1, its population will eventually contract without immigration." Demographic analysis
Memory hook
RE-PLACE = place new children in the spots left by older generations. Replacement = renewing population levels line for line.
When not to use
Do not confuse replacement rate with overall population growth rate, which includes net migration.
Fun facts
- The extra '0.1' in the 2.1 replacement rate accounts for infant mortality and minor gender ratio imbalances at birth.
Explore more words
fertility, projection, depopulation, substitute, substitution, renewable
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