Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

ad captandum vulgus

American  
[ahd kahp-tahn-doom wool-goos, ad kap-tan-duhm vuhl-guhs] / ɑd kɑpˈtɑn dʊm ˈwʊl gʊs, æd kæpˈtæn dəm ˈvʌl gəs /
Latin.

  1. in order to please the mob.

Etymology

Origin of ad captandum vulgus

Literally, “for courting the crowd”

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.

Some have described it as an ad captandum vulgus use of words, and others have called it rash, and unduly sceptical.

From Western Worthies A Gallery of Biographical and Critical Sketches of West of Scotland Celebrities by Jeans, J. Stephen (James Stephen)

These paltry tricks, ad captandum vulgus, can have no effect but on idiots; and if you are idiots, I don't desire you should be my customers.

From The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves by Smollett, T. (Tobias)

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.