noun
poll
pohl
noun
1
A survey that asks people questions to gauge public opinion.
"The latest poll shows the two candidates neck and neck."
"A quick poll of the office found most people prefer working from home on Fridays."
2
A formal vote, or the place where voting happens.
"Voters lined up outside the polls before dawn."
verb
1
To ask a group of people for their opinions or votes, or to record such results.
"Researchers polled a thousand adults about their spending habits."
How to Use Poll
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAsking a group of people for their opinion or vote, and the resulting count.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "pole" (a long rod, or the North/South Pole) — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
opinion poll
exit poll
poll the audience
Word Forms
polled past tense, polls plural, polls plural, polls plural, Polls plural, polls singular
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The latest _____ shows the two candidates neck and neck.
Etymology
From Middle English polle, meaning "head" or "scalp" — voting by "head count" gave the word its modern sense of counting opinions.