polling
B2Formal, Technical, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
The process of voting or of collecting votes, opinions, or data.
The act of sampling opinions or votes; also, in computing, the regular checking of the status of a device.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily belongs to political contexts but is also used in market research, social science, and information technology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical. Spelling conventions (e.g., centre/center) do not apply to this form.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, associated with democratic processes and data collection.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with a slight uptick during election periods.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Polling of + [GROUP] (e.g., polling of voters)Polling on + [TOPIC] (e.g., polling on the issue)Polling in + [LOCATION] (e.g., polling in key states)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Polls are open/closed”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market research to gauge consumer opinion.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and statistics for data collection methodologies.
Everyday
Most commonly associated with elections and voting.
Technical
In computing, refers to a method where a device is repeatedly checked for status updates.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team is polling voters in the constituency.
- We will be polling members on the proposal next week.
American English
- The network is polling residents across the state.
- They plan to poll the audience after the debate.
adjective
British English
- The polling data was released to the press.
- They set up temporary polling booths.
American English
- The polling numbers shifted after the scandal.
- We reviewed the latest polling information.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today is polling day.
- Where is the polling station?
- The polling shows the candidate is popular.
- They did some polling to find out what people think.
- Exit polling suggested a close result long before the official count.
- Accurate polling requires a carefully selected sample.
- Despite favourable polling, the incumbent faced a surprising defeat on election night.
- The software uses a polling mechanism to monitor the status of peripheral devices.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a POLE where people gather to vote; POLLING is the action of gathering at that pole.
Conceptual Metaphor
TAKING THE PUBLIC'S PULSE (measuring opinion as a doctor measures a heartbeat).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'поллиноз' (hay fever).
- The verb 'to poll' is not directly related to 'пол' (floor/sex).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'polling' as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'three pollings' is atypical; use 'three polls' or 'three polling exercises').
- Confusing 'polling station' (place to vote) with 'polling data' (the results).
Practice
Quiz
In a computing context, what does 'polling' typically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'poll' is typically a noun referring to a single instance or set of data (e.g., 'a recent poll'). 'Polling' is the gerund or present participle form, referring to the continuous activity or process (e.g., 'they are polling voters').
Yes. It is commonly used in market research (e.g., 'consumer polling') and computer science (e.g., 'device polling'), though the political sense is the most frequent.
It is primarily an uncountable noun (e.g., 'extensive polling'). The countable form is 'poll' (e.g., 'several polls').
A 'polling station' (UK) or 'polling place' (US) is a designated location where voters go to cast their ballots in an election.
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