Etymology

popular

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Today it means: Common among the general public; generally accepted. Full definition →

First used 15th c.Middle English populer ← Latin populāris ← Old French populaire
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The story

  1. Proto-Italic*poplos
  2. Old Latinpopulus
  3. Latinpopulus
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  6. Latinpopulāri
  7. Old Frenchpopulaire
  8. Latinpopulāris
  9. Middle Englishpopuler
  10. English todaypopular

Inherited from Middle English populer, borrowed from Old French populaire, or borrowed from Latin populāris.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. Common among the general public; generally accepted.
  • from 15th c. Concerning the people; public.
  • from 16th c. Pertaining to or deriving from the people or general public.
  • 16th–17th c. Of low birth, not noble; vulgar, plebian.
  • from 16th c. Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption.
  • 16th–18th c. Cultivating the favour of the common people.
  • from 17th c. Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.
  • from 19th c. Adapted to the means of the common people; cheap.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.