pops

American

[pops] / pɒps /

adjective

of or relating to a symphony orchestra specializing in popular or light classical music.

Thursday is pops night on the concert series.

noun

(used with a singular verb) Pops, a symphony orchestra specializing in popular and light classical music.

When you're in Boston be sure to hear the Pops.

Etymology

Origin of pops

First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at pop ²

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.

Read more: PayPal’s stock pops on takeover hopes.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The coming weeks will be full of volatility, with dips, pops, and more dips in the stocks.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

“From the time it pops over the horizon to the time it gets to you, is a very short window of time,” Karako said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Meanwhile, Anna McLoughlin, a jewellery maker from the Forest of Dean, said consumers should not "just buy the first thing that pops up onto your phone screen".

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

The drink fizzes, crackles, and pops in the glass.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023