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carrying capacity
noun
: the maximum population (as of deer) that an area will support without undergoing deterioration
Examples of carrying capacity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These handheld, lightweight machines simply lack the processing power and carrying capacity that let driverless cars and other larger robotic cousins navigate their world independently.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 July 2024
The new model of reproduction could significantly alter estimates of ecosystem carrying capacity and our understanding of the resources needed to support species’ survival, says Caroline Williams, an integrative biologist at the University of California-Berkeley who wasn’t involved in the research.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 16 May 2024
It's equipped with plenty of pockets and up to 45 liters of carrying capacity.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2024
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheel valve stems and replace the load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1857, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of carrying capacity was
in 1857
Dictionary Entries Near carrying capacity
Cite this Entry
“Carrying capacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrying%20capacity. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on carrying capacity
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carrying capacity
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