popular

[pop-yuh-ler] /ˈpɒp yə lər/
adjective
1.
regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general:
a popular preacher.
2.
regarded with favor, approval, or affection by an acquaintance or acquaintances:
He's not very popular with me just now.
3.
of, pertaining to, or representing the people, especially the common people:
popular discontent.
4.
of the people as a whole, especially of all citizens of a nation or state qualified to participate in an election:
popular suffrage; the popular vote; popular representation.
5.
prevailing among the people generally:
a popular superstition.
6.
suited to or intended for the general masses of people:
popular music.
7.
adapted to the ordinary intelligence or taste:
popular lectures on science.
8.
suited to the means of ordinary people; not expensive:
popular prices on all tickets.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English populer < Latin populāris. See people, -ar1
Related forms
antipopular, adjective
nonpopular, adjective
overpopular, adjective
pseudopopular, adjective
quasi-popular, adjective
semipopular, adjective
subpopular, adjective
Can be confused
poplar, popular.
Synonyms
1. favorite, approved, liked. 5. common, current. See general.
Examples from the web for popular
  • Another reason daylilies are popular is that they're so easy to grow.
  • Programs that let parents track grades in real time are popular but can raise stress.
  • He remained popular but his prestige was ebbing.
  • Lincoln won by a narrow popular majority, but a significant electoral majority.
  • Luggage services popular with frequent fliers.
  • What's the most popular smart phone on the market? I'm often asked that by listeners who are thinking of buying one.
  • Museums are famous, popular institutions for which many knowledgeable people are willing to volunteer their labor.
  • Relish these popular vegetables in all their colors, sizes, and shapes.
  • And, perhaps above all, his language is astoundingly popular and modern.
  • Take a look at what else we found on one popular search engine.
British Dictionary definitions for popular

popular

/ˈpɒpjʊlə/
adjective
1.
appealing to the general public; widely favoured or admired
2.
favoured by an individual or limited group: I'm not very popular with her
3.
connected with, representing, or prevailing among the general public; common: popular discontent
4.
appealing to or comprehensible to the layman: a popular lecture on physics
noun
5.
(usually pl) cheap newspapers with mass circulation; the popular press Also shortened to pops
Derived Forms
popularity (ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪtɪ) noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin populāris belonging to the people, democratic, from populus people
Word Origin and History for popular
adj.

early 15c., "public," from Middle French populier (Modern French populaire) and directly from Latin popularis "belonging to the people, general, common; devoted to or accepted by the people; democratic," from populus "people" (see people (n.)).

Meaning "suited to ordinary people" is from 1570s in English; hence, of prices, "low, affordable to average persons" (1859). Meaning "well-liked, admired by the people" is attested from c.1600. Of art, entertainment, etc., "favored by people generally" from 1819 (popular song). Related: Popularly. Popular Front "coalition of Communists, Socialists, and radicals" is from 1936, first in a French context.