popularity

American  

[pop-yuh-lar-i-tee] / ˌpɒp jəˈlær ɪ ti /

noun

• popularities
  plural

1. the quality or fact of being popular.

   Synonyms:

   repute, fame, fashion, vogue, acclaim

2. the favor of the general public or of a particular group of people.

   His popularity with television audiences is unrivaled.

   Synonyms:

   repute, fame, fashion, vogue, acclaim

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpopularity
  noun
• overpopularity
  noun
• semipopularity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• popularities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of popularity

First recorded in 1540–50, popularity is from the Latin word populāritās a courting of popular favor. See popular, -ity

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

popularity popularities

After the decision not to renew Kesic's show, hundreds protested in Belgrade, in a sign of his popularity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Despite their popularity, hospitals have reported an increase in injuries to both e-bike riders and pedestrians.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Yet despite their popularity, BCAAs appear less effective than complete protein sources for muscle recovery.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

Independent sponsorships, in which investment managers raise capital for each individual deal they back, have grown in popularity as a way to bring in capital during the fundraising slump.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

One day he was invited to appear on a radio program, which was the beginning of a giddy popularity he had never expected.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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 never guessed how crowded up by popularities a poor author may be till I had crossed the Atlantic and reaped the kindness of Greater Britain.

From My Life as an Author by Martin Farquhar Tupper

And in all art-work the first requisite is, that a man have, in the collective sense and reason of mankind, a firm foothold for withstanding the shifting currents and fashions and popularities of the day.

From Shakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I. With An Historical Sketch Of The Origin And Growth Of The Drama In England by Henry Norman Hudson

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Related Words

• acceptance
• acclaim
• demand
• fame
• following
• reputation

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