underpopulated

[ uhn-der-pop-yuh-ley-tid ]

adjective

1. having a population lower than is normal or desirable.

underpopulated

/ ˌʌndəˈpɒpjʊˌleɪtɪd /

adjective

1. having a low population rate

Other Words From

• under·popu·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underpopulated¹

First recorded in 1880–85; under- + populate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

In an era where escaping the bustle of the city often means swapping one type of crowd for another, Kings Canyon is an underpopulated gem that, for now, proves that nature can still be peaceful.

From Los Angeles Times

Some have exploded inside Russian guns, and many of the rest have fallen harmlessly in underpopulated areas.

From New York Times

Similarly, mountain gorillas are so underpopulated that their inbreeding is literally warping their facial features, and elevating their extinction risk.

From Salon

The overcrowding in cities has left over half the nation’s municipalities underpopulated and millions of homes unoccupied.

From Washington Times

Occupancy in downtown’s residential buildings has held steady and even grown as new units came to market, but the big office towers built to serve white-collar businesses have remained stubbornly underpopulated.

From Los Angeles Times