human resources

American  

[hyoo-muhn ree-sawr-sis, ree-zawr-siz, yoo-muhn] / ˈhju mən ˈri sɔr sɪs, ˈri zɔr sɪz, ˈju mən /

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.

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human resources British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of human resources

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

human resources

She is, after all, a one-woman human resources department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The demographic was far more likely to use AI compared with other generations, according to researchers at the payroll and human resources platform.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

A few seats away, 30-year-old human resources manager Julia Garcia has done the same.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

According to the suit, Jane Doe’s complaints and reports to her supervisors and human resources about her alleged treatment were dismissed and that they “failed to take timely or effective corrective action.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Fifteen trains leave Lecherfa every twenty-four hours, says Jose Patricio Sanchez Arellano, who handles human resources for Lecherfa and other stations for Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de Mexico.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario