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Popular vs Classic - What's the difference?

popular | classic |

As adjectives the difference between popular and classic

is that popular is popular while classic is of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.

As a noun classic is

a perfect and/or early example of a particular style.

popular

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Common among the general public; generally accepted.
  • * 2007 , Joe Queenan, The Guardian , 23 Aug 2007:
  • Contrary to popular misconception, MacArthur Park is not the worst song ever written.
  • (legal) Concerning the people; public.
  • Pertaining to or deriving from the people or general public.
  • * 1594 , (Richard Hooker), Preface :
  • At the coming of Calvin thither, the form of their civil regiment was popular , as it continueth at this day: neither king, nor duke, nor nobleman of any authority or power over them, but officers chosen by the people out of themselves, to order all things with public consent.
  • * 2009 , (Diarmaid MacCulloch), A History of Christianity , Penguin 2010, p. 645:
  • Luther in popular memory had become a saint, his picture capable of saving houses from burning down, if it was fixed to the parlour wall.
  • * 2009 , Graham Smith, The Guardian , letter, 27 May 2009:
  • Jonathan Freedland brilliantly articulates the size and nature of the challenge and we must take his lead in setting out a radical agenda for a new republic based on the principle of popular sovereignty.
  • (obsolete) Of low birth, not noble; vulgar, plebian.
  • *, II.17:
  • *:Popular and shallow-headed mindes, cannot perceive the grace or comelinesse, nor judge of a smooth and quaint discourse.
  • Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption.
  • * 2009 , ‘Meltdown’, The Economist , 8 Apr 2009:
  • As a work of popular science it is exemplary: the focus may be the numbers, but most of the mathematical legwork is confined to the appendices and the accompanying commentary is amusing and witty, as well as informed.
  • (obsolete) Cultivating the favour of the common people.
  • * Such popular humanity is treason. -
  • Liked by many people; generally pleasing, widely admired.
  • *{{quote-book, year=2006, author=(Edwin Black)
  • , chapter=2, title= Internal Combustion , passage=The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.}}
  • * 2011 , The Observer , 2 Oct.:
  • They might have split 24 years ago, but the Smiths remain as popular as ever, and not just among those who remember them first time around.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03
  • , author=David S. Senchina, volume=101, issue=2, page=134, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Athletics and Herbal Supplements , passage=Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.}}
  • Adapted to the means of the common people; cheap.
  • Antonyms

    * anonymous * unpopular

    Derived terms

    * pop; pop art *

    References

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    classic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * classick (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
  • * 1661 , , The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
  • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant
  • * (Lord Byron) (1788-1824)
  • Give, as thy last memorial to the age, / One classic drama, and reform the stage.
  • Exemplary of a particular style.
  • Exhibiting timeless quality.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-01-01, author=Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore
  • , volume=101, issue=1, page=47–48, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight , passage=Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus ) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.}}
  • Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
  • * (Felicia Hemans) (1804-1864)
  • Though throned midst Latium's classic plains.
  • (euphemistic) Traditional; original.
  • Synonyms

    * classical

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
  • An artistic work of lasting worth
  • The author of such a work.
  • * Macaulay
  • Raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic .
  • A major, long-standing sporting event
  • (dated) One learned in the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; a student of classical literature.
  • See also

    * classical * classics