familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.
a familiar melody
popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.
a writer of popular romances
vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).
souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste
Example Sentences
Noun a longtime familiar of the bar, she would most likely have been there on the night in question with old familiars the normally reserved writer can be quite warm and funny AdjectiveSome authors, such as Richard Rodriguez and Ruben Martinez, will be familiar to media mavens outside the region … Ray Olson, Booklist, 15 Oct. 1996I think one reason I finally have finished a novel about baseball is that it happens to be one of the few subjects that I know much about. If I were as familiar with forestry, music, … or the city of Rotterdam, I am sure I would have written fiction grounded in that knowledge long ago. Philip Roth, Reading Myself and Others, 1975 The essay covers familiar ground. She has become a familiar figure in the world of politics. She spoke in a familiar way about her past. an essay written in a familiar style a familiar way of addressing someone They felt the waiter was being overly familiar. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Alongside the food-court familiar, though, diners will find frog legs, beef tendon, pork intestine. Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 29 Aug. 2021 John Obi Mikel, a Nigerian familiar for his years with Chelsea, left another Turkish team, Trabzonspor, this week. Victor Mather, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2020 During the Salem witch hunts, common folklore said that witches transformed into their familiars (black cats). Lisa Stardust, Teen Vogue, 22 Oct. 2019 For Fringe familiars, there are a few changes for 2019, Bentley says. Kathy Berdan, Twin Cities, 29 July 2019 According to demon lore, Paimon is a master of the arts and familiars (spirits that often manifest as animals) who will bless his followers with wealth. Yohana Desta, HWD, 8 June 2018 Toi GB took the microphone, started to sing in a familiar growled whisper, and the room erupted in cheers. Jenn Harris, latimes.com, 25 May 2018 Such moments sum up the charm of Mardi Gras, when fact and fiction, reality and fantasy, alight among familiars and strangers alike. The Masked Observer, AL.com, 26 Jan. 2018 In the books, Ambrose has snake familiars who do not get along with Salem, and also has a cute British accent. Alexis Nedd, Cosmopolitan, 8 Jan. 2018
Adjective
But some people familiar with the process remember Plank personally emphasizing the UA logo, just as Curry’s imprimatur was coming into its own; sales of his 2016 sneaker were disappointing. Matt Sullivan, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2022 Goldman Sachs is planning the biggest round of job cuts since the start of the pandemic, according to people familiar with the decision. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2022 These stakes are now held by his new company Flow, according to people familiar with the matter. Konrad Putzier, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 In June, people familiar with the situation said market makers Citadel Securities and Virtu Financial Inc. were building a crypto trading platform along with Fidelity and fellow retail brokerage Charles Schwab Corp. David Pan, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 The Wall Street Journal last week reported that Twitter agreed in June to pay roughly $7 million as part of a settlement agreement with Zatko, citing people familiar with the matter. Clare Duffy, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 People familiar with the situation told the Post and other news organizations that the Manhattan district attorney's office is pursuing charges similar to a federal case cut short by Trump's pardon of Bannon. Harold Maass, The Week, 7 Sep. 2022 The Times confirmed her identity through case records, people familiar with the matter and some copies of emails that were briefly filed in court this summer and later redacted. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 But three people familiar with the matter confirmed Bannon is expected to turn himself in on Thursday. Shayna Jacobs, Jacqueline Alemany And Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English familier, from Anglo-French, from Latin familiaris, from familia — see familyentry 1