popularity
AmericanOther Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of popularity
First recorded in 1540–50, popularity is from the Latin word populāritās a courting of popular favor. See popular, -ity
Explanation
Popularity is the quality of being well-liked and having a lot of friends and admirers. Winning a student council election isn't just about popularity — you also have to have good ideas and be willing to work hard. Having popularity means that there are many people in your corner, supporting or liking you. The popularity of an internet celebrity might disappear suddenly, while the popularity of your favorite writers and artists seems to last for generations. This kind of popularity implies being adored by people who don't even know you in person (the word comes from a Latin root meaning "the people"), while your popularity among your friends is a more personal type.
Vocabulary lists containing popularity
We the People: Popul
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Academy Awards, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
popul (people)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Direct admission has ballooned in popularity, particularly among less-selective private schools vying for a shrinking pool of college-goers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Sportsbooks have surged in popularity since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized sports betting in the U.S., leaving it to be regulated by states.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
Cosmetic procedures—including surgeries and minimally invasive treatments, like fillers and injections—are indeed increasing in popularity.
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026
The race was unique in that it owed its existence to the popularity of one driver - Max Verstappen.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
The popularity of malls gained significant momentum during this period, peaking in 1992.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
And while he’s happy for these books’ popularities, he says that some subjects may be better told by kids who also aren’t tasked with saving the world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
We have seen extended popularities of “connect the dots,” “touching base,” “walking you through,” “deep dive,” “gain traction” and “circle back.”
From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2017
That is, the difference between the popularities of a given song in different “worlds” increased as the strength of social influence increased.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 18, 2013
I should say that the popularity of M. Ohnet, like other popularities in England as well as in France, is quite explicable.
From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 To the Close of the 19th Century by George Saintsbury
The vital facts of to-day's literature always lie buried beneath chatter of large editions and immense popularities.
From Books and Persons Being Comments on a Past Epoch 1908-1911 by Arnold Bennett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
