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
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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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.
But veteran California pollster Mark Baldassare said that he hasn’t counted out Steyer yet.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
The shift towards Vijay is most pronounced among younger voters and women, according to pollster Pradeep Gupta of Axis My India.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
In a survey released last week by the conservative pollster J.L.
From Slate • Mar. 23, 2026
A poll released recently by U.S. pollster Gold Glove Consulting found that 72% of Venezuelans think the country is headed in a good direction.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 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.
