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

Hyrox has helped catapult “hybrid fitness races,” which capitalize on our fitness-obsessed culture and competitive nature, into popular culture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Iconic painter shaped one of the most distinctive styles in modern popular culture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Despite the way it is often portrayed in popular culture, 68% of the physicists surveyed said the Big Bang does not necessarily represent the beginning of time.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

"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

But for anyone who's more familiar with the strict-foreign-parent archetype in popular culture, let's break down the stereotypes associated with Persian moms and dads.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

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