focus group

American  

noun

1. a representative group of people questioned together about their opinions on political issues, consumer products, etc.

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focus group British  

noun

1. a group of people brought together to give their opinions on a particular issue or product, often for the purpose of market research

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Etymology

Origin of focus group

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Luke Tryl, director of focus group and polling company More in Common, argues that this link is not necessarily as direct as it may seem.

From BBC

His three sons and nine grandchildren are a particularly helpful focus group.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I wish the school or district would do a better job explaining what it means to be chronically absent. It’s not clear to me, and I think many other parents are in the same boat,” said one parent in a focus group.

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, the music scene has ossified to the point where journalist and popular music critic David Masciotra writes, “It is the culture of the pre-packaged interview, the ‘social media consultant,’ the Instagram filter, the carefully parsed public relations-penned announcement, statement, or apology, the focus group tested product, and the imperialistic, hegemonic algorithm, forever directing people what to consume, when to feel, and how to think.”

From Salon

Two members of the focus group, a Latina who works in finance and a white man who is retired, offered these pointed responses:

From Salon