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

Her government is trying to sever the link between popular culture and the criminal underworld, denouncing narcocorridos, songs which glorify criminals, as well as tackling crime head on.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 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

That ground seems adequately covered in popular culture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi let users bet on future events in areas such as politics, war, and popular culture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Barack sometimes referred to me as “Joe Public,” asking me to weigh in on campaign slogans and strategies, knowing that I kept myself happily steeped in popular culture.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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