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Meaning & use

popularity

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌpɒpjʊˈlærəti/
US/ˌpɑpjəˈlɛrəti/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The condition of being liked or enjoyed by many people.

    Grammar: No plural and no article before it in general statements: popularity is fragile, not a popularity.

    Patterns

    • popularity of something
    • popularity among someone
    • popularity with someone

    The band's popularity grew quickly after one viral video.

    Cooking shows have gained popularity among teenagers.

    Her popularity at school came from her kindness.

  2. noununcountable

    The degree to which a politician or leader is approved of by the public.

    Grammar: Often in the phrase popularity rating or poll: the mayor's popularity fell.

    Patterns

    • popularity rating
    • popularity poll

    The governor's popularity dropped after the tax increase.

    A new poll shows the prime minister's popularity at a record low.

    The senator enjoys great popularity in rural areas.

Common combinations

gain popularity
Electric scooters quickly gained popularity in the city.
growing popularity
The growing popularity of podcasts surprised publishers.
popularity contest
Student elections can turn into a popularity contest.
decline in popularity
There has been a steady decline in popularity of landline phones.
enjoy popularity
The cafe enjoys popularity with local workers.

Synonyms and how they differ

fame
Fame means being widely known, while popularity means being widely liked; a famous villain has fame but little popularity.
appeal
Appeal describes the quality that attracts people, whereas popularity describes the result: how many people actually like it.
favor
Favor is a more formal word for approval, often from one person or group, and is less used for mass appeal.
acclaim
Acclaim means enthusiastic public praise, which is stronger and more critical in tone than simple popularity.

Opposites

unpopularity

Word family

popular adjective
liked by many people
popularly adverb
by most people, as in popularly known as
popularize verb
to make something widely liked or known
unpopular adjective
not liked by many people
unpopularity noun
the state of being disliked by many

Commonly confused: popularity or fame?

popularity vs fame

Fame is about being well known, not necessarily liked. A person can have fame without popularity.

Practice

The new phone's ___ among teenagers has surprised even the company.

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