densely-populated
DEN-slee POP-yuh-lay-ted
/ˈdɛnsli ˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd/
Having a large number of people living in a relatively small area.
A descriptive term used in geography and sociology to measure urban intensity.
The story behind the word. A compound of two Latin-derived words. 'Dense' has been used since the 15th century to describe things packed closely together, and 'populated' since the 16th century.
Word relationships
- crowded: A more general, often negative term; densely-populated is more clinical and precise.
- compact: Suggests a small, efficient use of space rather than just many people.
- sparsely-populated: Having few people living in a large area.
Collocations
- densely-populated area
- densely-populated region
- most densely-populated
Example sentences
- "Tokyo is one of the most densely-populated cities on Earth." Comparing global cities.
- "Diseases can spread more quickly in densely-populated urban areas." Discussing public health.
Memory hook
Dense (thick) + People. The people are thick on the ground. Packed with people.
When not to use
Don't use it for a crowded room; use it for a geographic region or city.
Fun facts
- The Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong was once the most densely-populated place on Earth, with 33,000 people living in just 6.4 acres.
Related words
Explore more words
density, densification, populace, depopulation, mountainous, urbanization
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.