A popularity contest is a real or attributed

contest Contest may refer to: * Competition * Will contest * Contesting, amateur radio contesting (radiosport) Film and television * ''Contest'' (2013 film), an American film * Contest (1932 film), a German sports film * " The Contest", a 1992 season ...

in which the sole criterion for winning is how many votes one gets, such that the winner is the most liked contestant. Although the phrase is often used disparagingly to suggest that some process is improperly based on popular appeal, the term historically referred to real contests sponsored by newspapers in late 19th century and early 20th century

America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. In 1914, the legality of these contests was challenged. A Kentucky appeals court ruled that

popularity In sociology, popularity is how much a person, idea, place, item or other concept is either liked or accorded status by other people. Liking can be due to reciprocal liking, interpersonal attraction, and similar factors. Social status can be d ...

contests did not violate the state's lottery law. Millsape v. Urban, 171 S.W. 1198
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References

American culture Journalism American English idioms {{sociology-stub