Dictionary

popular

see also: Popular

Etymology

From Middle English populer, from Old French populaire and Latin populāris, from populus ("people") + -āris.

Pronunciation

(RP) IPA: /ˈpɒpjʊlə/
(America) IPA: /ˈpɑpjəlɚ/

Adjective

popular

Common among the general public; generally accepted. [from 15th c.]
(legal) Concerning the people; public. [from 15th c.]
Pertaining to or deriving from the people or general public. [from 16th c.]
- 1594, Richard Hooker, Preface:
  At the coming of Calvin thither, the form of their civil regiment was popular, as it continueth at this day: neither king, nor duke, nor nobleman of any authority or power over them, but officers chosen by the people out of themselves, to order all things with public consent.
- 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 645:
  Luther in popular memory had become a saint, his picture capable of saving houses from burning down, if it was fixed to the parlour wall.
(obsolete) Of low birth, not noble; vulgar, plebian. [16th]
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 17, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC ↗:
  Popular and shallow-headed mindes, cannot perceive the grace or comelinesse, nor judge of a smooth and quaint discourse.
Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption. [from 16th c.]
(obsolete) Cultivating the favour of the common people. [16th]
- 1712, Joseph Addison, Cato, A Tragedy:
  Such popular humanity is treason.
Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired. [from 17th c.]
Adapted to the means of the common people; cheap. [from 19th c.]