popularity contest
noun
: a contest or situation in which the person who wins or is most successful is the one who is most popular rather than the one who is most skillful, qualified, etc.
The election was just a popularity contest. Voters didn't really care about the issues.
—often used to say that someone or something is not popularAfter laying off hundreds of workers, the company isn't going to win any popularity contests around here.
Examples of popularity contest in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Others said that the conclave should not be a global popularity contest.
—
Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 7 May 2025
Because America is not at the top of the world popularity contest right now, for some reason.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2025
Trump is losing the world’s popularity contest Goldman Sachs economists warn that President Donald Trump’s trade war and unpopular policies abroad are hurting American tourism and sparking boycotts, which could slow U.S. economic growth.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2025
Wisconsin should do the same instead of putting its top court up for a popularity contest.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
Leadership isn't a popularity contest Your job isn't to be your team member's friend or your client’s therapist.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Metaphor makes politics a literal popularity contest, where candidates compete against each other to become the new king by winning the favor of the people.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 8 Oct. 2024
Bowl selection has always been a popularity contest, and given the intense television and business interest in having Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter at their game, CU would be a desirable pick even if the win-jumping rule didn’t apply.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024
The pooch popularity contest brought in 12.2 million viewers across all platforms — a gain of 5% from last year.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 30 Nov. 2024
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Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 7 May 2025
Because America is not at the top of the world popularity contest right now, for some reason.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2025
Trump is losing the world’s popularity contest Goldman Sachs economists warn that President Donald Trump’s trade war and unpopular policies abroad are hurting American tourism and sparking boycotts, which could slow U.S. economic growth.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2025
Wisconsin should do the same instead of putting its top court up for a popularity contest.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
Leadership isn't a popularity contest Your job isn't to be your team member's friend or your client’s therapist.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Metaphor makes politics a literal popularity contest, where candidates compete against each other to become the new king by winning the favor of the people.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 8 Oct. 2024
Bowl selection has always been a popularity contest, and given the intense television and business interest in having Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter at their game, CU would be a desirable pick even if the win-jumping rule didn’t apply.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024
The pooch popularity contest brought in 12.2 million viewers across all platforms — a gain of 5% from last year.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 30 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Popularity contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/popularity%20contest. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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