popular

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɒpjʊlə/

adjective

  • 1liked or admired by many people or by a particular person or group: she was one of the most popular girls in the school these cheeses are very popular in Europe
  • 2 [attributive] (of cultural activities or products) intended for or suited to the taste, understanding, or means of the general public rather than specialists or intellectuals: editorials accusing the government of wanting to gag the popular press
  • (of a belief or attitude) held by the majority of the general public: many adult cats, contrary to popular opinion, dislike milk
  • 3 [attributive] (of political activity) carried on by the people as a whole rather than restricted to politicians or political parties: a popular revolt against colonial rule

Derivatives

popularism

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'prevalent among the general public'): from Latin popularis, from populus 'people'. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th century