popular
adjective
pop·u·lar
ˈpä-pyə-lər 
1
: of or relating to the general public
2
: suitable to the majority: such as
a
: adapted to or indicative of the understanding and taste of the majority
a popular history of the war
b
: suited to the means of the majority : inexpensive
sold at popular prices
3
: frequently encountered or widely accepted
a popular theory
4
: commonly liked or approved
a very popular girl
popularly
adverb
Examples of popular in a Sentence
They have names that were popular a century ago.
He is a popular guy in school.
Spicy foods have become increasingly popular.
That is a very popular misconception.
The word “groovy” was popular in the 1960s but it's outdated now.
Her theories are popular among social scientists.
a popular history of physics
Recent Examples on the Web
Each of our squirrel-proof bird feeder picks is top rated on Amazon, and our list includes popular brands like Brome, Kingsyard, and Perky-Pet.
—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 July 2026
The Dyl, made with Bayab gin, passionfruit and dill, is named after the owner’s daughter and has become a popular option on the menu.
—
Blair Crosby,
AJC.com,
5 July 2026
During an interview earlier this year at the popular Mo’s Midtown diner in Hartford, Fortune was sitting in a small booth and was suddenly interrupted by a man who had been sitting nearby in another booth.
—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2026
Commissioned by Mattel as a blatant weekly half-hour commercial for its popular toy line, the show pits He-Man and his heroic chums against the evil (but strangely inept) Skeletor in a battle for control of Castle Grayskull.
—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for popular
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Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 July 2026
The Dyl, made with Bayab gin, passionfruit and dill, is named after the owner’s daughter and has become a popular option on the menu.
—
Blair Crosby,
AJC.com,
5 July 2026
During an interview earlier this year at the popular Mo’s Midtown diner in Hartford, Fortune was sitting in a small booth and was suddenly interrupted by a man who had been sitting nearby in another booth.
—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2026
Commissioned by Mattel as a blatant weekly half-hour commercial for its popular toy line, the show pits He-Man and his heroic chums against the evil (but strangely inept) Skeletor in a battle for control of Castle Grayskull.
—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for popular
Cite this Entry
“Popular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/popular. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
popular
adjective
pop·u·lar
ˈpäp-yə-lər
1
: of, relating to, or coming from the whole body of people
popular government
2
: suitable for the average person (as in low price or ease of understanding)
popular prices
popular science
3
: generally current : prevalent
popular opinion
4
: commonly liked or approved
a popular teacher
popularity
noun
ˌpäp-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē
popularly
adverb
Etymology
from Latin popularis "of the people," from populus "the people" — related to public
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