manpower

American  

[man-pou-er] / ˈmænˌpaʊ ər /

noun

1. power in terms of people available or required for work or military service.

   the manpower of a country.

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manpower British  

/ ˈmænˌpaʊə /

noun

1. power supplied by men

2. a unit of power based on the rate at which a man can work; approximately 75 watts

3. the number of people available or required to perform a particular function

   the manpower of a battalion

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Usage

Gender-neutral form: personnel, staff

Etymology

Origin of manpower

First recorded in 1860–65; man + power

Explanation

Manpower is the total number of people who can work to get something done. How quickly you clean your house after a big party will depend on how much manpower you've got. The term manpower can mean "labor force," "workforce," "workers," or simply "people," and despite the man, it applies to both men and women. A large ship requires more manpower than a small sailboat, and the amount of manpower required to run Disneyland for a day is estimated to be at least 20,000 employees, most of whom aren't wearing cartoon character costumes.

Example Sentences

He talks, at length, about another priority: reducing Russia's advantage in terms of manpower.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Russia, whose battlefield advances have slowed since last year, has paid a high price in manpower for relatively small territorial gains.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Kering notes that although the consultants have provided benchmarks, analytical tools and extra manpower, “the strategic direction remains fully driven by our internal managers.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

"They don't have the manpower to get her out," the woman says.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

In early 1943, after the heavy losses in Russia, the Nazis realized they needed to bolster Germany’s dwindling manpower.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti