vox populi
1
8.9
- noun
- /vɑks ˈpɒpjʊlaɪ/
:
vox populi
- In a democracy, the vox populi should guide the actions of the government.
He called the paper Vox Populi wisdom of the crowds.
- He called the paper Vox Populi wisdom of the crowds.
Examples
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Many artists claim to capture the vox populi in their work, reflecting societal views.
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Anything less contravenes the vox populi.
Academic text (2002) -
It is not a matter for discussion by the vox populi or what others think is right.
Blog text (6) -
He called the paper Vox Populi wisdom of the crowds.
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What limits dissatisfaction is the comfortable liberal political message invariably sent by these vox populi findings.
Academic text (2002) -
When I think about it, it shocks me just how peaceful it is: the vox populi speaks, and off go political careers—not heads.
Blog text (23) -
According to a September 1991 Vox populi poll, 51 percent of women and 27 percent of men surveyed considered themselves religious believers, not necessarily of the Orthodox Church.
Academic text (1992) -
Obviously, we all know about the proverbial vox populi, both in literature (and especially, as I have just said, in drama) and also in our daily lives, but the purpose of the present essay is to examine the socially situated or intermental cognition lying at its basis and the way that it is represented in narrative.
Academic text (2005) -
The politician always refers to the vox populi when making decisions.
Synonyms
309
4.1
Agreement among a group of people about an idea or decision
298
1.0
The view that most people in a group have
168
2.4
The views most people in a society have about an issue
11
2.9
A belief that most people in a group share
9
4.4
The public's opinion about a person or issue formed outside a legal trial
5
2.5
An option many people prefer
1
4.1
What most people think or want about a public issue
How Popular
Surface Forms
Morphology
vox + populi
The phrase literally translates from Latin as 'voice (vox) of the people (populi)', which directly maps onto the meaning 'popular opinion'. However, because it is a Latin borrowal with genitive morphology and fixed phrase status in English (which many B1 learners may not recognize even if they know the individual forms), the connection is not fully predictable for learners without prior exposure.
Etymology
Vox populi breaks into vox 'voice' and populi 'of the people'. Imagine a crowd speaking together so their many voices become one view, and that's why the phrase means 'popular opinion'.