John Travolta's First Hit   John Travolta first gained fame as Vinnie Barbarino on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975).
popular adjective (LIKED) A2 liked, enjoyed, or supported by many people: She's the most popular teacher in school. That song was popular with people from my father's generation. Walking is a popular form of exercise in Britain.
History and definitions. The term popular culture was coined in the 19th century or earlier. Traditionally, popular culture was associated with poor education and the lower classes, as opposed to the official culture and higher education of the upper classes.