popular

/ˈpɑpjələr/

/ˈpɒpjulə/

The adjective popular describes something that is well-liked or admired by a lot of people. Sometimes when you read a bestselling novel, you wonder why it's so popular.

Popular comes from the Latin word populus, which means people. Anything that is popular is liked by many people. When you're talking about popular music or art, you may sometimes shorten the word popular to "pop," as in pop music or pop culture. Popular also describes things by or for the people, or the general population, such as the popular vote or a popular revolt.

Definitions of popular

1. adjective

   regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
   “a popular tourist attraction”

   “a popular girl”

   “cabbage patch dolls are no longer popular”

   synonyms:

   best-selling

   selling in great numbers

   fashionable

   patronized by

   favorite, favourite

   appealing to the general public

   hot

   very popular or successful

   touristed, touristy

   visited by throngs of tourists

   antonyms:

   unpopular

   regarded with disfavor or lacking general approval

   less-traveled

   not visited by many travelers
2. adjective

   (of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people)
   synonyms: pop

   nonclassical

   not classical
3. adjective

   carried on by or for the people (or citizens) at large
   “the popular vote”

   “popular representation”

   “institutions of popular government”

   synonyms:

   democratic

   characterized by or advocating or based upon the principles of democracy or social equality
4. adjective

   representing or appealing to or adapted for the benefit of the people at large
   “popular thought”

   “popular science”

   “popular fiction”

   synonyms: democratic

   common

   having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual