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

See Examples For:

peer pressure

Former gang member Kevin Martin, who now works with a youth organisation in Glasgow, said those carrying knives were doing so "out of fear and peer pressure".

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

Are we saying the best way to make a difference is to go around putting peer pressure on each other?

From Slate ● May 15, 2026

If all children are offline, the peer pressure disappears.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 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

No thundering from a pulpit, no condemnation from bad churches, no peer pressure, just a book of scripture quietly waiting to say hello, as gentle and powerful as a little girl’s kiss on your cheek.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel