unpopular

American  

[uhn-pop-yuh-ler] / ʌnˈpɒp yə lər /

adjective

1. not popular; disliked or ignored by the public or by persons generally.

2. in disfavor with a particular person or group of persons.

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unpopular British  

/ ˌʌnpɒpjʊˈlærɪtɪ, ʌnˈpɒpjʊlə /

adjective

1. not popular with an individual or group of people

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Other Word Forms

• unpopularity
  noun
• unpopularly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of unpopular

First recorded in 1640–50; un- ¹ + popular

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.

Example Sentences

He called Colbert’s exit “the beginning of the end” for other late-night hosts and repeated claims that the comedian’s work had been unpopular and declining.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

Grok has reportedly been unpopular among U.S. federal agencies, collectively SpaceX’s single-largest customer.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

Another unpopular law -- since thrown out -- reclassified small agricultural holdings as medium-sized properties, which Indigenous communities viewed as a loss of their rights.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

AI is unpopular with many Americans, not least because of fears that it could wipe out swaths of white-collar jobs—and hurt early-career professionals, in particular.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

As a leader, one must sometimes take actions that are unpopular, or whose results will not be known for years to come.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela