What does polling mean?
Polling is the process of asking people for their opinions, preferences, or intended choices, usually through a formal survey. It is also used for the act of voting in an election. The word is especially associated with politics and public opinion: pollsters ask representative groups of voters how they intend to vote, while journalists report polling results as indicators of an election’s likely outcome. Polling does not necessarily indicate that a result will be exact, since a sample may not perfectly represent the wider electorate. The related terms 'poll' and 'opinion poll' name individual surveys, while 'polling station' refers to a place where voters cast their ballots. In contemporary usage, 'polling' is especially common in discussions of elections, political campaigns, and public sentiment.
The process of collecting opinions or preferences from a group of people, especially through a public opinion survey; also, the act of voting in an election.
"The polling indicates a narrow lead for the leading candidate."
As a count noun, 'polling' is uncommon; in most contexts it functions as an uncountable process noun.
To ask a group of people for their opinions or preferences, especially as part of a survey; also, to vote in an election.
"The candidates spent the morning polling voters outside the station."
The election-related sense is particularly common in British English.
In modern elections, polling can mean not only the act of voting but also the public opinion surveys that try to predict how people will vote.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does polling come from?
The word 'polling' ultimately derives from the Middle English 'poll', meaning the head or scalp of an animal and, by extension, a count of people or votes. The sense of counting votes developed by the early 19th century, and the modern sense of collecting public opinion developed through the use of 'poll' for a survey of opinion. The related word 'pollen' is a separate development from Latin 'pollen', meaning 'fine dust' or 'powder'.
Related word forms
How polling is actually used
The noun is most common in the contexts of public opinion research and elections. In British usage, 'polling' also commonly means voting, while in US usage, 'polling' is especially frequent in opinion-survey contexts, where 'vote polling' or 'voting' may be used when the act of voting is intended.
Easily confused with polling
Polling refers to the voting process as a whole, whereas a polling place is the building or location where people cast their votes.