pollster
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of pollster
Explanation
A pollster is a person who surveys voters to find out who they're voting for or to gather other information about their opinions. Often, pollsters attempt to predict the outcome of an election by polling people either before they vote or just afterwards. Pollsters sometimes also ask people questions about their opinions on social and political issues. Pollster, coined in 1939, comes from poll, "to take votes" or "to survey," and originally, "head of hair." This meaning was first extended from "head" to "person," and then in the 1620s to "counting heads."
Vocabulary lists containing pollster
U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Rasmussen Reports, which is typically a Republican- and Trump-friendly pollster, says that this Labor Day, about 45% of Americans “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s job performance.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
Meanwhile, the approval of Carney's government rose four points in recent weeks, as has the prime minister's personal popularity, according to figures released on Monday by Canadian pollster Abacus Data, external.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
“She told everybody what they were thinking and feeling was relevant,” said Janet Brown, an Alberta-based pollster.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Now, the looming reset — and the chance to create some distance from Platner’s scandals — offers Democrats a fresh chance to highlight reproductive rights, said Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
Obtaining random samples is a difficult art, and the pollster doesn’t always succeed.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
