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
It’s been easy to maintain that vow, given that in the 13 years since, the music festival has become a popularity contest.
—
Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
But of course, private companies don’t face the high-stakes popularity contest of the stock markets every day.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
To many, the takeaway was clear: Sometimes players become too famous and beloved to win what often amounts to a popularity contest, and seeing your old-school favorites return in the 2020s was destined to amount to disappointment.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Because this is not a high school popularity contest.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The category is too rich to be treated as a popularity contest this year.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — If the Arab Gulf states were to hold a popularity contest right now, President Donald Trump would be the prom king.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 16 May 2025
Others said that the conclave should not be a global popularity contest.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 7 May 2025
Any board member who’s solely worried about re-election and winning a popularity contest with voters should step down and let others take their place who can make sound fiscal decisions, while striving to improve the education of all public school students.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
But of course, private companies don’t face the high-stakes popularity contest of the stock markets every day.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
To many, the takeaway was clear: Sometimes players become too famous and beloved to win what often amounts to a popularity contest, and seeing your old-school favorites return in the 2020s was destined to amount to disappointment.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Because this is not a high school popularity contest.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
The category is too rich to be treated as a popularity contest this year.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — If the Arab Gulf states were to hold a popularity contest right now, President Donald Trump would be the prom king.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 16 May 2025
Others said that the conclave should not be a global popularity contest.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 7 May 2025
Any board member who’s solely worried about re-election and winning a popularity contest with voters should step down and let others take their place who can make sound fiscal decisions, while striving to improve the education of all public school students.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Popularity contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/popularity%20contest. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share