popular Meaning, Definition & Usage

  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
  2. adjective satellite carried on by or for the people (or citizens) at large
    • the popular vote
    • popular representation
    • institutions of popular government
  3. adjective satellite representing or appealing to or adapted for the benefit of the people at large
    democratic.
    • democratic art forms
    • a democratic or popular movement
    • popular thought
    • popular science
    • popular fiction
  4. adjective satellite (of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people)
    pop.

WordNet

Pop"u*lar adjective
Etymology
L. popularis, fr. populus people: cf. F. populaire. See People.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to the common people, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion; as, the popular voice; popular elections. "Popular states." Bacon. "So the popular vote inclines." Milton.
    The commonly held in popular estimation are greatest at a distance. J. H. Newman.
  2. Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not abstruse; familiar; plain.
    Homilies are plain popular instructions. Hooker.
  3. Adapted to the means of the common people; possessed or obtainable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior; as, popular prices; popular amusements.
    The smallest figs, called popular figs, . . . are, of all others, the basest and of least account. Holland.
  4. Beloved or approved by the people; pleasing to people in general, or to many people; as, a popular preacher; a popular law; a popular administration.
  5. Devoted to the common people; studious of the favor of the populace. R.
    Such popular humanity is treason. Addison.
  6. Prevailing among the people; epidemic; as, a popular disease. Obs. Johnson. Blackstone.

Webster 1913