meager population

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager population" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a population that is small in number or insufficient in size, often implying a lack of resources or vitality. Example: "The meager population of the remote village struggled to sustain itself during the harsh winter months."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What's left over makes it deep under the surface and supports a meager population of microbes, which is too small to deplete all the oxygen.

Science Magazine

He told me that one of his chief concerns was how he could preserve the cultural identity of the nation's relatively meager population of 722,000 as the revenues from 1.1 billion barrels of proven oil reserves came rolling in.

Vice

To fill the gap in available housing for a surging transient workforce, company-housing units – known as "man camps" – have sprung up on the outskirts of once meager population centers.

Vice

An earlier Hong Kong study that relied on expressed intent to predict vaccination uptake [11] failed to accurately predict the subsequent meager population uptake of pH1N1 vaccination by, at best, an order of magnitude [64], suggesting that intention alone is insufficient for predicting future vaccination uptake, consistent with empirical findings in other areas [33], [42].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

North of Mongolia and of China's three northeastern provinces lies Russia's Far East region, a numbing vastness twice the size of Europe with a meager and shrinking population and large reserves of natural gas, oil, timber, diamonds and gold.

The New York Times

This financing is a meager effort to stabilize population and help poor countries build prosperous, democratic societies.

The New York Times

But as Premont I.S.D. struggles to make improvements, critics blame the state's academic accountability and school finance systems, saying they unjustly punish districts that serve largely low-income populations and get meager per-student financing.

The New York Times

As an LGBTQ resident, I felt only minimally comforted by the fact that such disdain resides within a meager minority of our town's population.

Huffington Post

Brought back from a meager 5,000 in the 50's, the flamingo population there has grown to more than 30,000.

The New York Times - Science

Poverty levels were high and population mobility low, limited by a meager transport infrastructure.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Stress may exacerbate risk in population with poor nutritional status and meager economic resources [ 86].

Conflict and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "meager population", consider the context. Use this phrase when you want to emphasize not just the size, but also potential limitations or struggles faced by the population due to its small size.

Common error

While "meager population" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal reports. Sometimes, a more neutral term like "small population" might be more appropriate to maintain objectivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager population" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "meager" modifies the noun "population". It describes the size or quantity of a population, implying it is small or insufficient. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "meager population" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that effectively conveys a small or insufficient population size. Ludwig AI indicates that it is often used in contexts where the size of the population is a relevant factor, potentially influencing resource availability or other conditions. While the phrase is suitable for various contexts, more neutral terms like "small population" might be preferred in highly formal writing. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and Science Magazine provide examples of its use, confirming its validity in both news and scientific domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scant population

Replaces "meager" with "scant", emphasizing the lack of abundance.

sparse population

Uses "sparse" to highlight the widely distributed nature of the population.

thin population

Employs "thin" to suggest a low density within a given area.

limited population

Replaces "meager" with "limited", focusing on the restricted size.

small population

Uses "small" as a direct synonym for "meager", indicating reduced numbers.

paltry population

Substitutes "meager" with "paltry", emphasizing insignificance.

modest population

Replaces "meager" with "modest" to describe a population size that is not excessive.

exiguous population

Replaces "meager" with "exiguous", indicating scarcity or smallness.

reduced population

Uses "reduced" to specify a population that has diminished in size.

diminutive population

Replaces "meager" with "diminutive", focusing on the small scale or size.

FAQs

What does "meager population" mean?

The phrase "meager population" refers to a population that is small or insufficient in size. It often suggests that the population is not only small but also potentially lacking in resources or influence.

What are some synonyms for "meager population"?

Alternatives include "scant population", "sparse population", or "small population", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

How can I use "meager population" in a sentence?

Example: "The island's "meager population" struggled to maintain its traditional way of life in the face of increasing tourism."

Is "meager population" formal or informal?

The phrase "meager population" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but in very formal writing, consider whether a more neutral term like "limited population" or "small population" would be more appropriate.