population explosion

American  

noun

1. the rapid increase in numbers of a particular species, especially in the world's human population since the end of World War II, attributed to an accelerating birthrate, a decrease in infant mortality, and an increase in life expectancy.

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population explosion British  

noun

1. a rapid increase in the size of a population caused by such factors as a sudden decline in infant mortality or an increase in life expectancy

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Etymology

Origin of population explosion

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

Culling deer in England will be made easier under a long-awaited government 10-year plan to deal with a population explosion that threatens woodlands, newly-planted trees and farmland.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Mosquitoes thrive in warm weather conditions and rely on standing water to breed, making the swimming pools fertile grounds for a population explosion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

With the expansion of the area’s wetlands in 2021, it saw a population explosion.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 21, 2023

Beasley attributes the population explosion to a few explanations, including humans illegally moving wild pigs to the areas where hunting them is legal year-round, as well as to warmer climates in recent decades.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2023

I talked about the problems of the human population explosion and deforestation and starvation in Africa.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall