noun Uncommon

bandwagon

BAND-wag-uhn

Bandwagon (noun) means a popular trend or cause that people join simply because it is already popular. Example: “Once the team started winning, everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon.”

noun

A popular trend or cause that people join simply because it is already popular.

"Once the team started winning, everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon."

"She refused to jump on the diet bandwagon everyone else was following."

verb

To join a popular trend or cause purely because of its popularity.

"Critics accused the politician of bandwagoning on the issue once polls shifted."

How to use bandwagon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo support something only because it has suddenly become popular, not out of genuine belief.

Common mistake

Almost always used with "jump on" or "climb on" — "bandwagon" rarely stands alone as a verb outside informal use.

Common pairings

jump on the bandwagon bandwagon fan climb aboard the bandwagon

Word forms

bandwagoned past tense, bandwagonned past tense, bandwagons plural, bandwagons singular

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Once the team started winning, everyone wanted to jump on the _____.

Etymology

Originally a literal large wagon that carried a band in a parade; political candidates would ride on one to draw a crowd, and by the late 1800s "jump on the bandwagon" came to mean joining whatever side looked set to win.

· First attested 1800

Class of 1800 bandwagon joined the language around 1800.

alcohol Aryan Australia availability bah

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Rhymes for bandwagon

wagon dragon Aragon octagon paragon pentagon tarragon pendragon

See all rhymes for bandwagon →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bandwagon” mean?

The word “bandwagon” means a popular trend or cause that people join simply because it is already popular. In plain terms, to support something only because it has suddenly become popular, not out of genuine belief.

How do you pronounce “bandwagon”?

“Bandwagon” is pronounced BAND-wag-uhn (/ˈbændˌwæɡ.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “bandwagon” in a sentence?

Here is “bandwagon” used in a sentence: “Once the team started winning, everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon.”

What part of speech is “bandwagon”?

Depending on how it is used, “bandwagon” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bandwagon” come from?

The word “bandwagon” dates back to around 1800.

Is “bandwagon” a common word?

“Bandwagon” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “bandwagon” have?

“Bandwagon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a popular trend or cause that people join simply because it is already popular.