ENGLISH
REFERENCE

peoria

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //piˈɔɹiə// peo·ria

n. a city in the United States that people often use to represent a typical, average town. If something is popular there, people believe it will be popular everywhere in the country.

n. a city in Illinois frequently used in American idioms to represent the mainstream or average consumer base. Often appears in the rhetorical question 'Will it play in Peoria?' to gauge the broad appeal of a product or idea.


SIMPLE

The marketing team wants to see if the new ad works in Peoria.

CONTEXTUAL

Politicians often test their speeches in places like Peoria to ensure their message resonates with middle-class voters.

Usage

When used as a cultural reference, it is almost always preceded by 'in'.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference