popular

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   carried on by or for the people (or citizens) at large

   the popular vote

2. 2
   adj

   regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

   a popular tourist attraction

3. 3
   adj

   Common among the general public; generally accepted.

   Contrary to popular misconception, MacArthur Park is not the worst song ever written.

4. 4
   adj

   Pertaining to or deriving from the people or general public.

   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.

5. 5
   adj

   Of low birth, not noble; vulgar, plebian.

   Popular and shallow-headed mindes, cannot perceive the grace or comelinesse, nor judge of a smooth and quaint discourse.

6. 6
   adj

   Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption.

   As a work of popular science it is exemplary: the focus may be the numbers, but most of the mathematical legwork is confined to the appendices and the accompanying commentary is amusing and witty, as well as informed.

7. 7
   adj

   Cultivating the favour of the common people.

   Such popular humanity is treason.

8. 8
   adj

   Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.

   The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.

Etymology

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