popular culture

American

[pop-yuh-ler kuhl-cher] / ˈpɒp jə lər ˈkʌl tʃər /

noun

cultural and commercial artifacts, media, and entertainment reflecting, suited to, or aimed at the tastes of the general masses of people.

Most artists are influenced by a variety of external sources, including popular culture.
The actor's role in the series made her an important figure in popular culture.

Etymology

Origin of popular culture

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

popular culture

Kelly continued to promote classical dancing in popular culture, producing a television special, “Dancing: A Man’s Game,” in 1958; he choreographed “Pas de Dieux” for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1960.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Politicians have always borrowed the language of popular culture, he says.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

That ground seems adequately covered in popular culture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

We take it for granted that these films hold prized placement in American popular culture, along with hip-hop’s influence across Asia.

From Salon ● May 31, 2026

I grew up in a home with very little exposure to popular culture.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023