population density

noun

"population-density" is a 17-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“population density” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
18
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Average population per unit area; especially, the average number of people who live per square kilometer (or square mile) of land.

Corpus desk

Index EN-population-density · population density · English

population density · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 18 letters
  • VOW-8 8 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "P" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for population density
PropertyValue
Headwordpopulation density
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
Letters18
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “population density” in English

population densityranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

population density is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Average population per unit area; especially, the average number of people who live per square kilometer (or square mile) of land.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for population density, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is population density, spelled P-O-P-U-L-A-T-I-O-N- -D-E-N-S-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Average population per unit area; especially, the average number of people who live per square kilometer (or square mile) of land.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how population density appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. It couldn't make the Sligo case, noting "Given the relatively low population density and lack of larger towns across the region, the review has found that expansion of rail is difficult to justify in much of the region."

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "population density"?
"population density" is spelled P-O-P-U-L-A-T-I-O-N- -D-E-N-S-I-T-Y.
What does "population density" mean?
As a noun, "population density" means: Average population per unit area; especially, the average number of people who live per square kilometer (or square mile) of land.
What language does "population density" come from?
"population density" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list