plural

American  

[ploor-uhl] / ˈplʊər əl /

adjective

1. consisting of, containing, or pertaining to more than one.

2. pertaining to or involving a plurality of persons or things.

3. being one of such a plurality.

4. Grammar. noting or pertaining to a member of the category of number, found in many languages, indicating that a word has more than one referent, as in English men, or more than two referents, as in Old English ge, meaning “you.”

---

noun

Grammar.

1. the plural number.

2. a form in the plural.

plural British  

/ ˈplʊərəl /

adjective

1. containing, involving, or composed of more than one person, thing, item, etc

   a plural society

2. denoting a word indicating that more than one referent is being referred to or described

---

noun

1. grammar

   1. the plural number

   2. a plural form

plural Cultural  

1. The grammatical category in nouns, pronouns, and verbs that refers to more than one thing. Most nouns become plural with the addition of -s or -es: hats, chairs, dishes, countries, and so on. Some nouns form the plural in other ways, as in children, feet, geese, and women. (Compare singular; see agreement.)

---

Usage

What does plural mean? In grammar, a plural is a noun that refers to more than one. For example, the noun cats is the plural of the noun cat and means more than one cat. Plural also describes something that consists of, contains, or relates to more than one of something, as in A plural society is made up of more than one cultural group in which everyone practices their own culture. Example: The plural form of ox is oxen.

Other Word Forms

• plurally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of plural

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin plūrālis, equivalent to plūr-, stem of plūs plus + -alis -al ¹

Explanation

When you talk about a plural, you're talking about more than one. The plural form of the word "goose" is "geese." The word plural comes from the Old French plurel meaning "more than one," which is precisely how you would describe a plural form of something. In grammar, "the plural form" is used to describe more than one person, place or thing. Plurals can be tricky to master for people just learning English. There are the obvious ones where you just need to add an "s." Then, there are others: tooth, teeth; antenna, antennae; mouse, mice. The list goes on.

Example Sentences

“There is conviction” among leaders of defense startups, rather than just opportunism, said Sten Tamkivi, an Estonian serial entrepreneur and partner in early-stage fund Plural Platform, which is investing in the sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

More than 20 states have enacted or proposed digital school mapping measures in the past few years, according to an Associated Press analysis aided by the bill-tracking software Plural.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024

Plural marriage has been woven into the fabric of Utah.

From Washington Times • Apr. 24, 2022

"Plural marriage, what I know about it, I wonder if I would do it again knowing what I know. Knowing how I think it’s hard on all of you."

From Fox News • Feb. 15, 2021

Plural words are often treated as singulars in quantities and measurements of things like these: • Money: Bernice says $4 is too much for a cup of coffee.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner