unpopularity
Meaning
The state or condition of not being liked, admired, or supported by many people.
Structure
Usage
The mayor's harsh policies led to a sharp rise in his unpopularity.
She was surprised by the unpopularity of her suggestion among the team members.
The product's unpopularity was evident from its poor sales figures.
Etymology
The word 'unpopularity' is a modern English formation built upon the adjective 'popular,' which entered English in the late 15th century from Latin 'popularis' ("belonging to the people, public"). The Latin root 'populus' (people) is of uncertain, possibly Etruscan, origin. The negative prefix 'un-,' of ancient Germanic lineage, was attached to 'popular' to create its opposite, 'unpopular,' by the mid-17th century. Finally, the abstract noun suffix '-ity,' borrowed from Latin '-itas' via French, was added to form 'unpopularity,' concretizing the state of not being favored by the public or a social group.
Analysis
un: A prefix of Germanic origin (Old English), meaning "not," used to form negatives. popular: An adjective of Latin origin (populus, meaning "the people"), meaning "liked or admired by many people." ity: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-itas), indicating a state, condition, or quality.