What does poll mean?
A poll is a method of finding out what a group of people think, usually by asking a sample of them questions or by allowing them to vote. It can refer to the survey itself, the vote, or the resulting count. In everyday usage, a poll often measures public opinion, political preference, or reactions to a current issue, while “to poll” can mean questioning people, canvassing an electorate, or counting and recording votes. The word is common in journalism, elections, research, and public relations. It can also suggest the careful sampling of opinions rather than merely an informal conversation, although a poll may be conducted in less formal settings. The older sense of the word, meaning the head or face, survives mainly in literary and archaic usage. In modern English, polls are especially associated with political reporting and the publication of opinion figures, where they provide a public indication of how a group is responding to a question.
A survey or systematic inquiry into the opinions of a group, or a formal vote and the resulting count.
"The party led in the national opinion poll."
When referring to an opinion survey, poll is often modified by “opinion” or “public.”
To question a group of people about their opinions or views; to gather opinions by survey or canvass.
"The newspaper polled readers about the new policy."
In an electoral context, the verb can also mean to count and record votes.
The plural polls is used for multiple opinion surveys, votes, or recorded counts.
"The polls showed a narrow lead for the incumbent."
From counting heads to measuring sentiment, a poll turns many individual opinions into a public number.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poll come from?
The word is recorded in Middle English in the sense “head,” from an earlier Old English word with the same meaning. By the early modern period, it had developed the sense of counting or listing people, and this developed into the modern meanings connected with voting and surveying opinion. The word therefore preserves an older association with counting heads, a connection still evident in political and electoral contexts.
Related word forms
How poll is actually used
In contemporary use, poll most often refers to an opinion survey or a vote. The sense meaning the head is archaic or literary and is uncommon in ordinary modern English.
Easily confused with poll
A poll gathers opinions or counts votes, whereas a pool is a body of water or a group of available people or resources.