popularity

[ pop-yuh-lar-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality or fact of being popular.

   Synonyms: repute, fame, fashion, vogue, acclaim

2. the favor of the general public or of a particular group of people:

   His popularity with television audiences is unrivaled.

   Synonyms: repute, fame, fashion, vogue, acclaim

Other Words From

• nonpop·u·lari·ty noun
• over·popu·lari·ty noun
• semi·popu·lari·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of popularity¹

First recorded in 1540–50, popularity is from the Latin word populāritās a courting of popular favor. See popular, -ity

Example Sentences

The social media platform Bluesky was hit by an outage on Thursday, amid a rising wave of popularity for the app, which is often described as a friendlier alternative to X,.

From BBC

As regional emblems go, only the palm tree seems to rival the bird of paradise in popularity.

From Los Angeles Times

If there’s still a redoubt in the GOP where outside pressure from right-wing media can’t get the job done, it’s secret-ballot popularity contests in the Senate.

From Slate

This presents an opportunity for Democrats to regain popularity, particularly in swing states in Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin, Silver wrote.

From Salon

This, arguably, can contribute to popularity and success in politics.

From Slate

Related Words

• acceptance
• acclaim
• demand
• fame
• following
• reputation