human resources

American  

[hyoo-muhn ree-sawr-sis, ree-zawr-siz, yoo-muhn] / ˈhyu mən ˈri sɔr sɪs, ˈri zɔr sɪz, ˈyu 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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of human resources

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Moving a corporate stock plan can take months if not years and can require approval from corporate human resources departments and other stakeholders.

From Barron's

Human resources leaders at some of America’s largest companies say it’s time to stop treating their AI as people.

From The Wall Street Journal

And they shouldn’t be given a specific job title, Nickle LaMoreaux, chief human resources officer at IBM said, speaking Thursday at the WSJ Leadership Institute’s Chief People Officer Summit in Menlo Park, Calif.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We provide all the supporting systems to develop them, coach them and then give them different assignments,” said Annie Huang, senior vice president for human resources for P&G in North America.

From The Wall Street Journal

It rotates college graduates through a range of jobs within engineering, finance or human resources.

From The Wall Street Journal