popularity

Etymology

From popular +‎ -ity, from Latin popularitas (“an effort to please the people”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpɒp.jəˈlæɹ.ɪ.ti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌpɑ.pjəˈlæɹ.ə.ti/, [ˌpɑ.pjəˈlæɹ.ə.ɾi], /ˌpɑ.pjəˈlɛɹ.ə.ti/, [ˌpɑ.pjəˈlɛɹ.ə.ɾi]

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌpɔp.jəˈlæɹ.ə.ti/, [ˌpɔp.jəˈlæɹ.ə.ɾi]

Noun

popularity (usually uncountable, plural popularities)

1. The quality or state of being popular; especially, the state of being esteemed by, or of being in favor with, the people at large

   This destination has increased in popularity after great reviews in the guide books.

   Politicians are rarely known for their popularity.

   The massive popularity of the book led to it being adapted into a movie.

2. (archaic) The quality or state of being adapted or pleasing to common, poor, or vulgar people
   • 1600, Ben Jonson, Every Man Out of His Humour:

     So this Gallant, labouring to avoid Popularity, falls into a habit of Affectation, Ten thousand times hatefuller than the former.

   1. (by extension) cheapness; inferiority; vulgarity.
3. (archaic) Something which obtains, or is intended to obtain, the favor of the vulgar; claptrap.
   • 1597, Francis Bacon, The Colours or Good and Evil:

     Popularities, and circumstances which […] sway the ordinary judgment.

4. (obsolete) The act of courting the favour of the people.
   • 1603, Plutarch, translated by Philemon Holland, Moralia:

     Cato (the younger) charged Muraena, and indicted him in open court for popularity and ambition.

5. (archaic) Public sentiment; general passion.
   • 1834–1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume (please specify |volume=I to X), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company [et al.], →OCLC:

     A little time be allowed for the madness of popularity to cease.