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
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Academy Awards, List 5
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popul (people)
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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.
Plus, how fitness trackers stack up against each other and the popularity of panic pouches.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 11, 2026
But in the two years since, Bardella's popularity has remained solid.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
The gaming universe of Warhammer 40,000 is surging in popularity to the point where it’s attracted the devotion of celebrities like Henry Cavill.
From Slate • Jul. 10, 2026
Bans have been growing in popularity worldwide, with Britain and Indonesia taking similar steps.
From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026
But it isn’t small-town living or even popularity versus principles that occupies my mind, so much as it is justice.
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
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.
