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

One of my mom group chats recently turned to strength training, and I copped to finally succumbing to peer pressure and buying weights on Amazon—5 pounders, to be exact.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 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

Are they a youth or emerging adult under age 25, and therefore more susceptible to peer pressure and impulsive decisionmaking?

From Slate • Dec. 29, 2025

At a youth group in Poole, Dorset, young people said their devices helped them stay in touch with friends and feel safer, but could also increase anxiety and peer pressure.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

Rishi held his arms open, and Dimple, giving in to peer pressure in spite of every instinct screaming at her not to, leaped into his arms.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon