popularity
AmericanOther Word Forms
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.
Sales of Diet Coke, by comparison, have been, well, pretty flat since the soda peaked in popularity in 2006.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Everlane’s popularity declined after the COVID-19 pandemic and the softening of the e-commerce boom in the 2020s.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Netflix in a press release cited the popularity of its “kids and families” content as one of the reasons for moving further into consumer products.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
Shrivastav says that it was her fear of the police that was exploited by the scammers and perhaps, her popularity as a stand-up comedian.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Listening to Lindsey talk about popularity made him feel a little bit of the mysterium tremendum.
From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green
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.
