manpower

[man-pou-er]

noun

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

   the manpower of a country.

manpower

/ 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

Usage

Gender-neutral form: personnel, staff

Word History and Origins

Origin of manpower¹

First recorded in 1860–65; man + power

Example Sentences

Rather than a lottery, he has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower.

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Russia is rich in natural resources and holds a significant manpower advantage over Ukraine, but it is also vast.

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But the underlying report on the church’s “manpower problem” paints too gloomy a picture.

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Binding a "chronically dependent" partner, he argues, gives Riyadh both manpower and nuclear "insurance", while demonstrating to India, Washington and others that it will chart its own path.

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There's constant chatter of a manpower problem in Ukraine's military – how long will the war go on for, and will there be enough soldiers to defend the country?

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