Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Popular

Popular , adjective

[Latin popularis, from populus people: compare French populaire. See People.]

1.
Of or pertaining to the common people, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion; as, the popular voice; popular elections.
Popular states. — Bacon
So the popular vote inclines. — Milton
The men commonly held in popular estimation are greatest at a distance. — J. H. Newman
2.
Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not abstruse; familiar; plain.
Homilies are plain popular instructions. — Hooker
3.
Adapted to the means of the common people; possessed or obtainable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior; as, popular prices; popular amusements.
The smallest figs, called popular figs,... are, of all others, the basest and of least account. — Holland
4.
Beloved or approved by the people; pleasing to people in general, or to many people; as, a popular preacher; a popular law; a popular administration.
5.
Devoted to the common people; studious of the favor of the populace. [Rare]
Such popular humanity is treason. — Addison
6.
Prevailing among the people; epidemic; as, a popular disease. [Obsolete] — Johnson
Collocations (1)
Popular action (Law) , an action in which any person may sue for penalty imposed by statute. — Blackstone