unpopular
Americanadjective
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not popular; disliked or ignored by the public or by persons generally.
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in disfavor with a particular person or group of persons.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unpopular
Explanation
When something is unpopular, it means most people don't like it, like a school lunch that nobody wants to eat or a TV show that nobody watches. Empty theaters and poor reviews indicate that a movie is unpopular. A politician with low approval ratings is unpopular and probably won't be reelected. Unpopular opinions are those that are not widely accepted or well-received. The word unpopular indicates a lack of favor or acceptance that can lead to rejection of products, ideas, and sometimes even people.
Vocabulary lists containing unpopular
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.
The school turned to an unpopular choice: Pete Carroll, a former NFL coach.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to proceed with an unpopular economic overhaul despite his collapsing popularity and recent electoral routs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
While his backers have argued that many of the problems the nation faces are inherited, Merz himself is deeply unpopular.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
The merger has been unpopular in Hollywood because the combination of two similar companies is expected to erase at least 4,500 jobs, according to a recent report from Los Angeles County’s Department of Economic Opportunity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
His family had never been favourites with the now unpopular Queen.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
