Adjective

(en adjective)

Pertaining to a reputation accorded to another.

1904' ''The other young ladies of Sulaco stood in awe of her character and accomplishments. She was '''reputed to be terribly learned and serious.'' — Joseph Conrad, ''Nostramo Part 2, Chapter 1.

Pertaining to that which is supposed or assumed to be true.

1859' ''Mr H. C. Watson has marked for me in the well-sifted London Catalogue of plants (4th edition) 63 plants which are therein ranked as species, but which he considers as so closely allied to other species as to be of doubtful value: these 63 '''reputed species range on an average over 6.9 of the provinces into which Mr Watson has divided Great Britain.'' — Charles Darwin, ''On the Origin of Species , Chapter 2.

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.