Pop
/pɒp/noun
A short form of “popular,” especially referring to commercially oriented popular music or culture.
Did you know?The modern musical sense of “pop” emerged in the 1950s as a clipped form of “popular,” while the deeper root behind “popular” is Latin populus, meaning “the people.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pl̥h₁-
“To fill; the reconstructed root associated with the idea of a multitude or full group.”
Classical Latin
Latin
populus
“The people; a population or organized community.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
popularis
“Of or belonging to the people; relating to the common population.”
15th Century
English
popular
“Relating to or favored by the general public.”
1950s
English
pop
“A clipped form of “popular,” especially used for popular music and mass culture.”
Modern English
English
pop
“Mainstream popular music, culture, or entertainment; also used broadly for something widely enjoyed.”
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