popularity
HighNeutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
The state of being liked, admired, or supported by many people.
The condition of being widespread, common, or prevalent within a particular context or group; the degree of public acceptance or favour.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A mass noun often used with verbs of change (gain, lose, enjoy). Implies a measurable, often transient, social phenomenon. Can be positive or, in some contexts (e.g., 'unpopularity'), negative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are the primary variations.
Connotations
Slight connotation of being a measure of social acceptance or trendiness, common in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the popularity of [NOUN PHRASE]popularity among [GROUP]popularity as [ROLE/CATEGORY]popularity with [PERSON/GROUP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “popularity contest”
- “ride a wave of popularity”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market acceptance, brand recognition, or consumer preference (e.g., 'The product's popularity drove quarterly sales.').
Academic
Used in social sciences to analyse cultural trends, public opinion, or the diffusion of ideas (e.g., 'The study measured the policy's popularity across demographics.').
Everyday
Describes general liking for people, music, films, fashion, or activities (e.g., 'The new café has gained popularity with students.').
Technical
In computing/data science, can refer to metrics like page views, downloads, or engagement rates (e.g., 'The algorithm ranks videos based on popularity.').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The singer's popularity is very big.
- This game has a lot of popularity with children.
- Social media can increase a person's popularity quickly.
- The popularity of electric cars is growing every year.
- Despite its initial popularity, the fashion trend faded within a season.
- The mayor's popularity among voters has declined since the election.
- The theory's popularity within academic circles belies its fundamental flaws.
- They conducted a nuanced analysis of the policy's fluctuating popularity across different socioeconomic groups.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a POP star's popularity – many people like their MUSIC, hence POPularity.
Conceptual Metaphor
POPULARITY IS A COMMODITY (gain, lose, enjoy); POPULARITY IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (wave, surge, wane).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'popularnost'' as 'popularity' in all contexts. In Russian, 'popularnost'' can imply 'being well-known' more than 'being liked'. English 'popularity' strongly emphasises the 'liked/admired' component.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'popularity' as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has a big popularity' → 'He has great popularity'). Confusing with 'population'. Incorrect stress: /popʊˈlærɪti/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'popularity' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes, as it describes being liked. However, it can be neutral when simply describing a statistical fact (e.g., 'measuring popularity'), and phrases like 'unpopularity' or 'popularity contest' can carry negative connotations.
It can be used for all three: people (a popular teacher), objects (a popular model of car), and abstract ideas (the popularity of democracy).
'Fame' is about being widely known, which can be neutral or negative. 'Popularity' specifically implies being liked or approved of by many. A person can be famous but not popular (e.g., a notorious criminal).
It's more idiomatic to say 'gain popularity', 'earn popularity', or 'win popularity over' (a group). 'Win popularity' on its own is less common and may sound slightly non-native.
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