The word "unpopular" is spelled with the prefix "un-" which means "not" or "opposite of" followed by "popular." The "u" in "un-" is pronounced as /ʌ/ and the "o" in "popular" is pronounced as /ɒ/. The stressed syllable is "pop" where the letter "o" is pronounced as /ɒ/ and the letter "u" is pronounced as /ʌ/. The word refers to something or someone that is not liked or does not enjoy widespread popularity.
Unpopular is an adjective that describes a person, thing, idea, or action that lacks popularity or wide acceptance among a group or community. It pertains to something that is not favored, preferred, or well-liked by a majority of individuals or the general public. The term indicates a lack of popularity or unpopularity rather than highlighting its precise level.
When describing a person, unpopular suggests a lack of popularity or favoritism, implying that the individual is not admired, respected, or well-received by others. In the context of things or objects, it points to the lack of widespread appeal, making them unwanted, unimportant, or not frequently chosen. Regarding ideas, unpopular refers to concepts, beliefs, or opinions that are not widely shared or accepted by the majority, often considered controversial or contrasting with the prevailing viewpoints.
Actions or behaviors that are described as unpopular indicate activities that deviate from the norm or fail to comply with conventional expectations. These actions may be met with disapproval, criticism, or disagreement from others, thus lacking general support.
Since popularity is subjective and can vary across different groups or contexts, something that is unpopular at a certain time or within a particular community might be popular elsewhere. It is important to note that being unpopular does not inherently imply anything negative or positive, as it simply indicates a lack of general approval or acceptance rather than providing a qualitative judgment.
Not having the public favour; not pleasing the people.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "unpopular" is derived from the combination of two Latin roots: "un-" which means "not" or "opposite of", and "popularis" which means "of the people" or "common people". The word originated in the English language around the mid-17th century and has retained its meaning of something being disliked or not favored by the majority.