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.
That speech raised his profile both abroad and at home, said David Coletto, a Canadian pollster and CEO of Abacus Data.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
According to Dr Jac Larner, a leading Welsh pollster and political analyst, independence does not feature in the top three or four issues for Welsh voters.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
His approval rating fell to 36.4% at the end of March, a 10-percentage-point drop from a year earlier, according to the AtlasIntel pollster.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
In a survey released last week by the conservative pollster J.L.
From Slate • Mar. 23, 2026
A canvas is to an artist what a canvass is to a pollster.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
