human resources

[hyoo-muhn ree-sawr-sis, ree-zawr-siz, yoo-muhn]

noun

1. (used with a plural verb),  people, especially the personnel employed by a given company, institution, or the like.

2. (used with a singular verb),  human resources department.

human resources

plural noun

1. 1. the workforce of an organization

   2. ( as modifier )

      human-resources management

      human-resources officer

2. 1. the office or department in an organization that interviews, appoints, or keeps records of employees

   2. ( as modifier )

      a human-resources consultancy

3. the contribution to an employing organization which its workforce could provide in effort, skills, knowledge, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of human resources¹

First recorded in 1965–70