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.
Popularity on Wall Street is a double-edged sword.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 16, 2026
Popularity aside, its most striking quality, however, is the extent to which it worships at the altar of Craig David's 7 Days.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2023
Popularity, partially driven by social media, can be a double-edged sword.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 27, 2023
Popularity is handily conflated with credibility, and insider tips — you too could have this life! — are easily monetized.
From Salon • May 12, 2023
Miss Popularity Savannah Bobbins is at her desk surrounded by most of the homeroom.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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.
