Unpopulated: meaning, definitions and examples
π
unpopulated
[ ΚnΛpΙpjΚleΙͺtΙͺd ]
lack of people
Unpopulated refers to an area or region that is not inhabited or has very few inhabitants. It is often used to describe remote locations or places that are devoid of human settlement.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The unpopulated island was untouched by civilization.
- Many unpopulated areas in the region are ideal for wildlife.
- They explored the vast, unpopulated regions of the desert.
Etymology
The term 'unpopulated' is derived from the prefix 'un-', which comes from Old English meaning 'not' or 'the opposite of', combined with the word 'populated', which originates from the Latin 'populatus', the past participle of 'populare', meaning 'to inhabit' or 'to people'. The word 'populate' itself came into English in the late 14th century, and the combination reflects a state of absence of population. Through the evolution of the English language, unpopulated has been utilized particularly in geographical contexts and discussions about land usage, population density, and ecological studies to refer to areas lacking in human presence.