Definition

Noun: 1. A large, decorated wagon used for carrying a musical band, especially in a parade or circus. 2. A popular activity, cause, or trend that attracts increasing support, often because people want to be part of something successful or fashionable.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Literal):

  • The high school marching band performed from a brightly painted bandwagon.
  • In the old photographs, you can see the circus bandwagon leading the procession.

• Noun (Figurative):

  • After the team started winning, many new fans jumped on the bandwagon.
  • The new diet has become a real bandwagon, with celebrities endorsing it everywhere.

Advanced Usage

• "to climb/jump/hop on the bandwagon": To join or support a popular activity or trend, especially late or for personal advantage.

  • Politicians often jump on the bandwagon of popular public opinion.
  • Several companies are hopping on the sustainability bandwagon.

• "to be on the bandwagon": To be a supporter or participant in a popular trend.

  • Are you on the bandwagon for that new streaming show everyone is talking about?

• "bandwagon effect": A sociological phenomenon where the rate of adoption of a belief, trend, or product increases because others are also adopting it.

  • The sudden surge in the app's downloads is a classic example of the bandwagon effect.

Variants and Related Words

• Bandwagoning (noun, informal): The act of joining a popular trend.
  • His sudden interest in the sport seemed like pure bandwagoning.

Synonyms

• Trend: A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
• Fad: An intense but short-lived fashion or trend.
• Craze: A widespread but temporary enthusiasm for something.
• Boom: A period of great prosperity or rapid growth in a particular activity.

Antonyms

• Underdog: A competitor thought to have little chance of winning or succeeding.
• Niche: A specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service, not a mainstream trend.

Noun

1. a large ornate wagon for carrying a musical band
   • the gaudy bandwagon led the circus parade
2. a popular trend that attracts growing support
   • when they saw how things were going everybody jumped on the bandwagon