4 syllables: de, mo, graph, ic. Stress on graph.
/ˌdɪməˈɡræfɪk/
Say it backDemographic refers to the statistical study of populations, including their size, distribution, and characteristics. It is often used to describe groups within a population for research or policy purposes. The term combines elements of population science with statistical analysis to inform understanding of social patterns and trends.
"The demographic breakdown shows that the city’s population is aging and increasingly diverse."
"Marketing teams analyze demographic data to tailor campaigns to different age groups and income levels."
"Researchers examined the demographic shifts over the past decade to forecast future needs."
Pronounce as /ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk/. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: dem-uh-GRAF-ik. Start with a light schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /ˈɡræf/ in the stressed second syllable, ending with /ɪk/. Tip: keep the /m/ linking to /ə/ and avoid adding extra vowel between /dɛm/ and /ə/.
Two frequent errors: misplacing stress, saying /ˌdiːməˈræfɪk/ or /ˌdɛməˈreɪfɪk/. Another is mispronouncing the /ɡræ/ cluster as /ɡreɪ/ or softening the /æ/ to a schwa. Correction: keep the second syllable as /ˈɡræf/ with a crisp /æ/ as in 'cat' and ensure the final /ɪk/ is short and quick, not /iːk/. Practice with minimal pairs paying attention to the stressed syllable tension.
US and UK share /ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk/; consonant articulation is similar, but rhoticity can influence surrounding vowels in rapid speech. In Australian speech, vowel qualities may be tighter and the /ɪ/ in the final syllable can be produced with a slightly centralized vowel. The primary stress remains on the second syllable; non-rhotic tendencies in some UK dialects may slightly affect linking and vowel length before /ɡ/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the /ˈɡræf/ cluster centered around vovel /æ/. The sequence /ˌdɛmə/ before the stressed syllable can cause trailing vowel schwa blends. Additionally, some speakers tense the tongue too early for /æ/ or replace /ɡ/ with /d/ or /j/ sounds. Focus on the strong second syllable with a crisp /æ/ and brief /ɡ/ closure.
Note the 'dem' and 'ogra-' boundary: the syllable break is de-mo-graph-ic, but the common pronunciation runs /ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk/ where the 'gra' is a single stressed digraph: /ɡræ/. Keep /ə/ between the first and second stressed syllables light, and ensure the /ɡ/ is a hard plosive with no vowel between /dɛm/ and /ɡræ/. This helps avoid inserting an extra syllable.
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Demographic originates from the late 19th century, rooted in Greek and Latin. The base is demos (Greek for ‘people’) and -graph- (from graphein, ‘to write’) combined with -ic to form an adjective meaning ‘pertaining to people’ or ‘population characteristics.’ The concept emerged in the context of demography, the science of populations, and gained prominence as data-driven social science grew. First attested in English around the 1830s–1840s as a descriptor in social statistics, it evolved to describe variables and patterns within populations. By the mid-20th century, demographic became a common noun modifier in fields like sociology, economics, marketing, and public health, indicating specific population characteristics such as age, race, income, or education. The word reflects a shift from broad, qualitative discussions of society to quantitative, data-centric analysis of groups, with modern usage often coupled with demographics as plural data sets or demographic information. Over time, the term has broadened to include segments within a population used for segmentation, targeting, and understanding social dynamics across regions and over time.
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Words that rhyme with "demographic"
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