peer pressure

American  

[peer presh-er] / ˈpɪər ˈprɛʃ ər /

noun

1. social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

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peer pressure Cultural  

1. The social influence a peer group exerts on its individual members, as each member attempts to conform to the expectations of the group. (See conformity.)

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Example Sentences

Many of us were raised to sneer at social influence—instructed to resist peer pressure at all costs—but there’s another term for thinking about all this that’s less off-putting: role modeling.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

Excessive laughter, he noted, can come from a feeling of superiority, nervousness in uncomfortable moments or peer pressure when others are laughing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

"There is peer pressure, because they've seen what their friends did. There is the expectation that has been planted with an affluent lifestyle. And there is the idea of showing effort," he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

His mum Kylie says she pleaded with the police to act, having felt she'd lost her son to peer pressure.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

Many people have observed that adolescents tend to be more reckless, impulsive, and vulnerable to peer pressure than adults.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater