bandwagon

[band-wag-uhn]

noun

1. a wagon, usually large and ornately decorated, for carrying a musical band while it is playing, as in a circus parade or to a political rally.

2. a party, cause, movement, etc., that by its mass appeal or strength readily attracts many followers.

   After it became apparent that the incumbent would win, everyone decided to jump on the bandwagon.

bandwagon

/ ˈbændˌwæɡən /

noun

1. a wagon, usually high and brightly coloured, for carrying the band in a parade

2. to join or give support to a party or movement that seems to be assured of success

Word History and Origins

Origin of bandwagon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; band ¹ + wagon

Example Sentences

"Ricky kept winning and the fans of the other fighters jumped on his bandwagon," said Warren.

Read more on BBC

My university hasn’t yet jumped onto the institutional neutrality bandwagon, and I’m glad.

Read more on Salon

Though he had been involved with smaller-scale, socially conscious dramas, he also jumped on the superhero bandwagon by enlisting in Marvel’s juggernaut franchise “Captain America: Winter Soldier.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

England's deadly dull World Cup qualifying victory against Andorra had a Groundhog Day feel for long-time followers of this particular bandwagon.

Read more on BBC

Prepare for the bandwagon effect when people realize his gift for sticking close to receivers and start figuring out he’s no fluke.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fad 
• form 
• look 
• mode 
• model 
• pattern 
• shape 
• thing 
• tone 
• trend 

When To Use

What does bandwagon mean?

If you jump on the bandwagon, you join in with the many people who follow, support, or are fans of someone or something popular and/or successful (especially when it is growing in popularity).Bandwagon is especially used in the context of sports teams, political movements, trends, and entertainment. It is almost always used in the singular in phrases like jump on the bandwagon, hop on the bandwagon, climb on the bandwagon, and get on the bandwagon. A noun is sometimes placed before bandwagon to refer to the thing being followed, such as the name of a particular sports team or TV show, as in people start to jump on the Yankees bandwagon around playoff time.  It is often used in a mildly negative way as a criticism of those who started following such a thing simply because it was popular or only after it had become popular or successful.Example: After the introduction of a pro league soccer team to the city, many residents jumped on the superfan bandwagon and started attending games and buying merchandise.