pop culture

Meaning

Short for 'popular culture,' this phrase refers to the dominant mainstream ideas, perspectives, attitudes, images, and trends within a given society. It heavily involves media, music, movies, fashion, and technology that are widely consumed by the general public. It is a neutral term used in academic, journalistic, and casual contexts.

Examples

• The movie is full of references to 1990s pop culture that only older viewers will catch.

  The movie is full of references to 1990s pop culture that only older viewers will catch.

• Social media plays a massive role in shaping modern pop culture.

  Social media plays a massive role in shaping modern pop culture.

• He has an incredible knowledge of pop culture, especially when it comes to classic video games.

  He has an incredible knowledge of pop culture, especially when it comes to classic video games.

• Many fashion trends today are heavily influenced by internet pop culture.

  Many fashion trends today are heavily influenced by internet pop culture.

• We had a long discussion about how pop culture reflects real-world societal issues.

  We had a long discussion about how pop culture reflects real-world societal issues.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I love studying populars culture.

  ✓ I love studying pop culture.

  The shortened form is always 'pop culture' (singular noun adjunct), never 'populars culture'.

• ✗ That meme is a big part of the pop's culture.

  ✓ That meme is a big part of pop culture.

  Do not use a possessive apostrophe-s with 'pop'. It functions as an adjective modifying 'culture'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Keeping up with ___ can be exhausting because trends change so fast.

  💡 The modern trends, entertainment, and media popular with the public.

  Show answer

  pop culture

• Her podcast focuses on how ___ influences the way we communicate.

  💡 Mainstream entertainment and societal trends.

  Show answer

  pop culture