unpopular

American  

[uhn-pop-yuh-ler] / ʌnˈpɒp jə 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

Some polls suggested he was the most unpopular prime minister in British history.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

The company’s AI models are relatively unpopular with U.S. businesses, according to Ramp data, and just a fifth of its monthly active users had used AI features as of March 31, according to the company.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

They are easy targets because they are unpopular and increasingly irrelevant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

“They’re banking on the public not caring because it’s about a small, unpopular group, but it sets a precedent that can’t be contained.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

“And I had my share of enemies, too. Children despise superior minds, you know, especially in leaders, who must often make unpopular decisions.”

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart