popular culture

American

[pop-yuh-ler kuhl-cher] / ˈpɒp yə 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.

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

Nevertheless, the wormhole metaphor flourished in popular culture and speculative theoretical physics.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

"I thought a street art exhibition would be the perfect way to remember him, as anybody can see it, it's free and part of popular culture today," added Millington.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

The King of Pop holds a singular place in popular culture and our collective memory.

From Salon • May 14, 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