Word adjective
unpopular
adj.
US /ˌənˈpɑpjəɫɝ/ UK /ʌnpˈɒpjʊlɐ/ un·pop·u·lar
Definition
- 01 B1 Intermediate
not liked or enjoyed by many people.
disliked or ignored by a majority of people or a specific social group.
Simple“He was an unpopular student because he was often mean to others.”
In context“The new manager became increasingly unpopular after she decided to cancel the annual holiday party without consulting the staff.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
not supported by most people because it is difficult or unpleasant.
lacking public support or approval, often in a political or social context.
Simple“The government made an unpopular decision to raise taxes this year.”
In context“The senator stood by his unpopular vote, arguing that long-term economic stability was more important than short-term public approval.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From un- + popular.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated