1

adj
Liked or enjoyed by many people.

This beach is a popular tourist attraction.
2

adj
Common or widely held among ordinary people.

Contrary to popular belief, this song is actually quite old.
3

adj
Intended for ordinary people rather than experts.

She writes popular science books for a general audience.
4

adj
Done by or for the people as a whole.

The president won the popular vote.

Thesaurus

Opposites

Word family

Derived forms antipopularextrapopularhyperpopularimpopularmegapopularnonpopularoverpopularpoppopufurpopularisationpopularisepopularism

Appears in

Phrases (7)

See all

popular song
a song widely known and liked by many people

Adjective + noun
popular appetizer
a small opening dish that many diners enjoy

Adjective + noun
popular appreciation
recognition or enjoyment of something by the wider public

Adjective + noun
popular comedian
a comedy performer liked by a large audience

Adjective + noun
popular fiction
fiction written for and enjoyed by a broad reading audience

Adjective + noun
enormously popular
liked or chosen by a very large number of people

Adverb + adjective

Simplified etymology

Popular ultimately derives from Latin populus “the people” or “populace.” In late Middle English it meant “prevalent among the general public”; the familiar sense “liked or admired by many people” developed in the early 17th century.

Etymology

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

populer Middle English populaire Old French populāris Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# popular

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɑ.pjə.lɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɒp.jʊ.lə/
**Frequency rank:** 2315

## Meanings
1. Liked or enjoyed by many people.
2. Common or widely held among ordinary people.
3. Intended for ordinary people rather than experts.
4. Done by or for the people as a whole.

## Examples
- This beach is a popular tourist attraction.
- Contrary to popular belief, this song is actually quite old.
- She writes popular science books for a general audience.
- The president won the popular vote.

## Antonyms
- anonymous
- unpopular

## Derived Forms
- antipopular
- extrapopular
- hyperpopular
- impopular
- megapopular
- nonpopular
- overpopular
- pop
- popufur
- popularisation
- popularise
- popularism

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: populer
- Root: populaire
- Root: populāris

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

## AI Etymology
Popular comes from Middle English populer, from Old French populaire and Latin populāris, from populus (“people”) + -āris (“-ar”). The historical chain includes populer (Middle English), populaire (Old French), populāris (Latin). In present-day English it covers liked or enjoyed by many people, common or widely held among ordinary people, and intended for ordinary people rather than experts. The wider family includes derived forms such as antipopular, extrapopular, hyperpopular, impopular, megapopular.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown

popular

Meanings