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Synonyms

popular

American  
[pop-yuh-ler] / ˈpɒp yə lər /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. Also shortened to: pops(usually plural) cheap newspapers with mass circulation; the popular press

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See general.

Other Word Forms

  • antipopular adjective
  • nonpopular adjective
  • overpopular adjective
  • popularity noun
  • pseudopopular adjective
  • quasi-popular adjective
  • semipopular adjective

Etymology

Origin of popular

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What it says about America: The Harlem Renaissance wasn’t niche; it was American popular culture.

From The Wall Street Journal

The site and its rival Polymarket have quickly become a part of pop culture, and are especially popular with young men who are drawn by the similarities to sports gambling and day trading.

From The Wall Street Journal

But this is not the first time tartan has emerged as a popular print within fashion.

From BBC

A former writer for Ariana Grande, SZA and Post Malone, he's the only best new artist nominee to pick up an album of the year nod, which suggests he's popular with voters.

From BBC

At the same time, its stewards held on to their hugely successful and popular NFL franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal