Definition of vox populi
:popular sentiment
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Read the Latest from M-W
vox populi was our Word of the Day on 02/18/2015. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Did You Know?
Vox populi is a Latin phrase that literally translates as "the voice of the people." It can be found in the longer maxim, "Vox populi, vox Dei," which means "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Many people think that expression means that the people are always right, but it really implies that the will of the masses - right or wrong - is often irresistible. Since the mid-1960s, English speakers, especially British ones, have trimmed "vox populi" down to the abbreviated form "vox pop," an expression used particularly for popular opinion as it is used and expressed by the media.
Origin and Etymology of vox populi
Latin, voice of the people
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up vox populi? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
