popular

many people like

many people have

for ordinary people

​ADJECTIVE

/ˈpɒpjʊlə(r)/

1. 1

   a popular activity, place, thing etc is one that many people like

    

   a popular brand of cat food

   What is the most popular leisure pastime after watching television?

   popular with: 

   This hotel is very popular with tourists.

    

   Adverbs frequently used with popular

   enormously

   exceedingly

   exceptionally

   ​

   1. 1a

      a popular person is liked by most people

       

      Jenny is one of the most popular girls in the school.

      popular with: He’s hugely popular with the fans.
       
   2. 1b

      ​ONLY BEFORE NOUN

      used about something that many people want or like to have

       

      Her books have enormous popular appeal.

      popular demand (=requests by a lot of people): 

      Due to popular demand, extra tickets for the match have been made available.

       
2. 2

   ​ONLY BEFORE NOUN

   a popular belief, feeling, attitude etc is one that many people have

    

   contrary to popular belief (=although most people do not believe it): 

   Contrary to popular belief, the existing safety regulations were adequate.

   a popular misconception (=something that many people wrongly believe to be true): 

   It’s a popular misconception that all women love shopping.

    

    

   Nouns frequently used with popular

   ▪ belief, misconception, myth, opinion, view
3. 3

   ​ONLY BEFORE NOUN

   suitable for ordinary people rather than experts

   popular science/psychology

    

   1. 3a

      involving the ordinary people in society, rather than politicians, leaders etc

      a popular uprising

      Popular discontent resulted in the government’s defeat.

      There is little popular support for their economic reform policies.