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

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

Fedorov has spent much of the war promoting advanced technology, like drones, as a way to offset Ukraine's shortages in manpower, money and ammunition.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Instead, four years on, Ukraine continues to hold its own against Russian troops across the east of the country, at an ever-increasing cost of manpower and resources for Moscow.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

Kaan did not directly occupy Mutal; victorious Maya cities rarely had the manpower to rule their rivals directly.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann