English Reference
noun

polling

n.
US /ˈpoʊɫɪŋ/ UK /pˈəʊlɪŋ/ polling

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the activity of asking many people the same questions to find out what the public thinks.

    the systematic collection and analysis of public opinion through surveys or questionnaires.

    Simple

    The latest polling suggests that most people are worried about the cost of living.

    In context

    Political analysts rely on sophisticated polling techniques to identify shifts in voter sentiment during the final weeks of a campaign.

    surveyingsamplingcanvassing
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    the act of casting or counting votes in an election.

    the process of recording and counting votes in an election or referendum.

    Simple

    Polling will take place between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Thursday.

    In context

    The electoral commission ensured that polling stations were accessible to all citizens, regardless of their physical mobility.

    votingballoting
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    when a computer or program keeps checking a device to see if it has information ready to send.

    a method in which a central controller or software process repeatedly queries a peripheral device or service to determine its status or readiness for data transfer.

    Simple

    The software uses polling to check if the printer is still connected to the network.

    In context

    While polling is simple to implement, it can be inefficient compared to interrupt-driven systems because it consumes processor cycles even when no data is available.

    queryingsampling

Usage polling staff · polling stations

However, recent polling in the US has shown that Mamdani is more popular among American Jews than Netanyahu.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

A 57-year-old polling agent was killed near the capital, Lusaka, on election day, and police arrested nine suspects.

Al Jazeera· 17 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated