Synonyms

popular culture

American

[pop-yuh-ler kuhl-cher] / ˈpɒp jə lər ˈkʌl tʃər /

noun

cultural and commercial artifacts, media, and entertainment reflecting, suited to, or aimed at the tastes of the general masses of people.

Most artists are influenced by a variety of external sources, including popular culture.
The actor's role in the series made her an important figure in popular culture.

Etymology

Origin of popular culture

First recorded in 1850–55

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.

See Examples For:

popular culture

"The Wicker Man is such a famous film and has such an impact on popular culture so it was amazing to be part of that world."

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Older audiences, however, are mystified by what some see as a dumbing down of popular culture.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Las Vegas also finds its own ways to commemorate its marks on history and popular culture — another way it’s proved useful for filming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

This culinary artist is one of that clan of uncompromising foodie obsessives who are beginning to become a cliché in popular culture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

I grew up in a home with very little exposure to popular culture.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

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