# unpopular

/ˌənˈpɑpjəɫɝ/ (US) · /ʌnpˈɒpjʊlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unpopular
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not liked by people

adjective · CEFR B1

not liked or enjoyed by many people.

For teachers: disliked or ignored by a majority of people or a specific social group.

- He was an unpopular student because he was often mean to others.
- The new manager became increasingly unpopular after she decided to cancel the annual holiday party without consulting the staff.

### 2. not supported or approved

adjective · CEFR B2

not supported by most people because it is difficult or unpleasant.

For teachers: lacking public support or approval, often in a political or social context.

- The government made an unpopular decision to raise taxes this year.
- The senator stood by his unpopular vote, arguing that long-term economic stability was more important than short-term public approval.

## Examples

- The new tax was very unpopular with local business owners.
- The manager had to make the unpopular decision to cancel the office holiday party to save money.
- While the senator's stance was initially unpopular among his constituents, it eventually gained traction as the long-term benefits of the policy became more apparent to the public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.