popular

[ pop-yuh-ler ]

adjective

1. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general:

   a popular preacher.

   Synonyms: bookmark

2. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by an acquaintance or acquaintances:

   He's not very popular with me just now.

3. of, relating to, or representing the people, especially the common people:

   popular discontent.

4. of the people as a whole, especially of all citizens of a nation or state qualified to participate in an election:

   popular suffrage; the popular vote; popular representation.

5. prevailing among the people generally:

   a popular superstition.

   Synonyms: current, common

6. suited to or intended for the general masses of people:

   popular music.

7. adapted to the ordinary intelligence or taste:

   popular lectures on science.

8. suited to the means of ordinary people; not expensive:

   popular prices on all tickets.

popular

/ ˈpɒpjʊlə; ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. appealing to the general public; widely favoured or admired
2. favoured by an individual or limited group

   I'm not very popular with her

3. connected with, representing, or prevailing among the general public; common

   popular discontent

4. appealing to or comprehensible to the layman

   a popular lecture on physics

noun

1. usually plural cheap newspapers with mass circulation; the popular press Also shortened topops

Derived Forms

• popularity, noun

Other Words From

• anti·popu·lar adjective
• non·popu·lar adjective
• over·popu·lar adjective
• pseudo·popu·lar adjective
• quasi-popu·lar adjective
• semi·popu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of popular¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English populer, from Latin populāris; people, -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of popular¹

C15: from Latin populāris belonging to the people, democratic, from populus people

Synonym Study

See general.

Example Sentences

Six miles later, we arrived at Jackson Falls, one of the most popular rock-climbing venues in Illinois.

From Washington Post

You can also see which regions it is more or less popular in.

From Search Engine Watch

Bing Search is testing a new section named “explore further” that shows you recommended queries and sites based on “your activity and what’s popular.”

From Search Engine Land

There’s a popular Swedish fitness craze that involves collecting trash, called “plogging,” a mix of jogging and “plocka upp” — Swedish for pick up.

From Washington Post

Intimate knowledge of people and places made arrieros effective and popular political leaders in the coastal region.

From Washington Post

The simple, awful truth is that free speech has never been particularly popular in America.

From The Daily Beast

Charles “Father” Coughlin, a raving anti-Semite, was one of the most popular radio hosts in the country.

From The Daily Beast

While this deferred action is controversial in the United States, in Mexico, what Obama did is universally popular.

From The Daily Beast

“He was a brave field commander and an expert in intelligence, and in organizing popular and tribal forces,” said the eulogist.

From The Daily Beast

Whether he gets his full due in popular culture remains to be seen.

From The Daily Beast

I know that in putting this before you I challenge some of the most popular affectations of cultivated people.

From Project Gutenberg

As a good-looking young bachelor, though a detrimental, he had been very popular.

From Project Gutenberg

In France the habit of snuffing was the most popular mode and to this day the custom is more general than elsewhere.

From Project Gutenberg

This work describes the fops and men of fashion of its time, and shows how popular the custom of tobacco taking had become.

From Project Gutenberg

He was for many years judge of a court in Connecticut, and is known as the author of the popular poem, McFingal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attractive
• beloved
• famous
• fashionable
• favored
• prominent
• suitable
• trendy