popular culture

[pop-yuh-ler kuhl-cher]

noun

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of popular culture¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

As is true of most great inventions, popular culture’s most effective Rorschach tests are entirely accidental, whereas the most meticulously planned weirdness tends to flop hardest.

Read more on Salon

“Her trailblazing impact on television and her dedication to storytelling across stage and screen have left an indelible mark on popular culture. We are honored to celebrate her extraordinary contributions to entertainment.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Lux Vivens,” produced by David Lynch and featuring Scottish fiddle player Jocelyn Montgomery, must be the first to put a saint’s songs on the popular culture map.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet, aside from Harvey Weinstein, it’s difficult to conjure many names in popular culture that actually faced any tangible consequences.

Read more on Salon

A woman who knows that I write about women and popular culture told me about this amazing Norwegian series on Netflix that she couldn’t remember the name of.

Read more on Salon