peer pressure

American  

[peer presh-er] / ˈpɪər ˈprɛʃ ər /

noun

1. social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

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peer pressure Cultural  

1. The social influence a peer group exerts on its individual members, as each member attempts to conform to the expectations of the group. (See conformity.)

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Example Sentences

Excessive laughter, he noted, can come from a feeling of superiority, nervousness in uncomfortable moments or peer pressure when others are laughing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

"It's some form of peer pressure," 24-year-old Haskell Austin tells the BBC.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

If all children are offline, the peer pressure disappears.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has painted social media as "a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators".

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

I know that stories like this are true because I’ve experienced peer pressure myself.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers