peer pressure

American

[peer presh-er] / ˈpɪər ˈprɛʃ ər /

noun

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.

peer pressure Cultural

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.)

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.

He added that "peer pressure played a large part in what went on".

From BBC • May 21, 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

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has painted social media as "a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators".

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

I’m not going to succumb to any sort of weird peer pressure.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2025

“Mostly because I’m prone to peer pressure: go.”

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

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