Poll Meaning
Poll Definition & Usage
A survey or questionnaire designed to gather information or opinions from a group of people, often for research or political purposes.
Examples
- "The election commission conducted a poll to determine which candidate had more support among young voters."
- "Before launching the new product, the company ran a poll to understand customer preferences."
- "A recent poll showed that most people support stricter environmental regulations."
- "The poll results indicated that voters were undecided about the new tax proposal."
- "In the last public opinion poll, nearly 70% of respondents said they were in favor of the new healthcare system."
To ask people for their opinions or vote on a particular issue, often through a survey or questionnaire.
Examples
- "The media outlet plans to poll its viewers on the most important issues in the upcoming election."
- "The local government decided to poll the community about the proposed new park development."
- "We need to poll our customers to understand what features they want most in the next software update."
- "The charity will poll supporters to decide which cause to prioritize in the coming year."
- "In the survey, we asked participants to poll their preferences for travel destinations."
A brief, informal survey or voting system to determine public preferences or opinions, often used in social media or casual settings.
Examples
- "The online game featured a poll asking users to vote for their favorite character."
- "During the meeting, we did a quick poll to see which time worked best for everyone."
- "The social media poll asked followers whether they preferred summer or winter fashion."
- "We ran a poll on our website to decide what content our audience wanted to see next."
- "The poll on Instagram revealed that 80% of users wanted more tutorials."
Cultural Context
The concept of polling is deeply rooted in both politics and public opinion research. It has played a crucial role in shaping political campaigns, policy decisions, and business strategies. Historically, polling began as a way to understand public sentiment, and it has evolved with the rise of digital technology, now frequently seen in the form of online surveys and social media polls.
The Great Town Poll
Story
The Great Town Poll
In the small town of Brookhaven, an election was approaching, and the local council wanted to understand how the residents felt about a new proposed park in the center of town. To get a sense of the community’s opinion, they decided to run a poll. Mayor Thompson, known for her direct and practical approach, sent a team to poll the residents face-to-face, but she also launched an online version to ensure everyone had a chance to participate. On a brisk morning, Sarah, the town’s most enthusiastic volunteer, stood outside the coffee shop with a clipboard, politely asking passersby to share their thoughts. 'It’ll only take a minute, I promise,' she said with a warm smile. But as she polled more and more people, she realized that the answers weren’t as simple as she had expected. Some people liked the idea of a park, while others were concerned about parking spaces and noise. 'I’m all for it, but we need better traffic flow,' Mr. Thompson grumbled as he sipped his coffee. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hayes, the local schoolteacher, felt the park would offer a peaceful space for the children. Meanwhile, over on Instagram, the town council posted an informal poll, asking residents to vote 'yes' or 'no' on the park proposal. The digital poll garnered hundreds of votes in a few hours, and the results were fascinating – the younger crowd was overwhelmingly in favor, while the older generation had reservations. As the day went on, the town buzzed with discussions, with everyone eagerly awaiting the results. At the end of the week, Mayor Thompson stood before a full council meeting, holding up the results of both the physical and online polls. 'It’s clear we have a lot of work to do to reach a compromise,' she said. 'But at least we know where the community stands.' In the end, the poll had done more than just collect votes. It had sparked a town-wide conversation about the future of Brookhaven.
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