bandwagon

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noun, often attributive band·wag·on \ˈband-ˌwa-gən\

Definition of bandwagon

1 : a usually ornate and high wagon for a band of musicians especially in a circus parade
2 : a popular party, faction, or cause that attracts growing support —often used in such phrases as jump on the bandwagon
3 : a current or fashionable trend

See bandwagon defined for English-language learners

See bandwagon defined for kids

Examples of bandwagon in a Sentence

tried to get everyone on the bandwagon about forming a neighborhood crime watch

Recent Examples of bandwagon from the Web

After the passage of the Maine law, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont were among the states to jump on the bandwagon (an expression that, like Prohibition, has its roots in 1850s America.)

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Why Was Maine the First State to Try Prohibition?", 2 June 2017
The bandwagon is bulging with country stars, pro athletes and people swelling with civic pride for the best show in Music City.

— teresa m. walker, The Seattle Times, "From Hockey 101, Preds bring Stanley Cup Final to Music City", 1 June 2017
The bandwagon is bulging with country stars, pro athletes and people swelling with civic pride for the best show in Music City.

— Washington Post, "From Hockey 101, Preds bring Stanley Cup Final to Music City", 1 June 2017
A slump is never great timing, but endorsers who jumped on Kyle Schwarber's bandwagon shouldn't be surprised if their campaigns are stalling, one branding expert said.

— phil thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Kyle Schwarber's slump may also ding his brands", 30 May 2017
Health-conscious Americans jumped on the low-fat bandwagon and replaced butter with margarine, whole eggs with egg whites, and other common foods with their low-fat counterparts in an effort to promote better health.

— dorothy kieffer, sacbee, "Eat fat to lose weight? Scientists say it’s the smart thing to do", 29 May 2017
By the end of his rookie season, most fans were officially off the Turner bandwagon and turned on him.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers need to remember lessons of Turner pick", 27 May 2017
The day is also the traditional kick off of summer and retailers are quick to jump on the bandwagon with special Memorial Day sales.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Memorial Day sales 2017: Best deals from Walmart, Best Buy , Target, H&M, JC Penney", 27 May 2017
By introducing a significantly wider array of viewing choices, and by announcing its ambitious intention to climb aboard the Internet bandwagon, TCI clearly hopes to turn things around, both in terms of service and customer contentedness.

— wired staff, WIRED, "TCI to Add Channels, Boost Net Access", 2 May 1997

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bandwagon'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bandwagon

1849

BANDWAGON Defined for English Language Learners

bandwagon

play

noun

Definition of bandwagon for English Language Learners

: a popular activity, effort, cause, etc., that attracts growing support

BANDWAGON Defined for Kids

bandwagon

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noun band·wag·on \ˈband-ˌwa-gən\

Definition of bandwagon for Students

1 : a wagon carrying musicians in a parade
2 : a candidate, side, or movement that attracts growing support Many restaurants are getting on the bandwagon and offering healthier food.