manpower
Americannoun
noun
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power supplied by men
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a unit of power based on the rate at which a man can work; approximately 75 watts
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the number of people available or required to perform a particular function
the manpower of a battalion
Usage
Gender-neutral form: personnel, staff
Etymology
Origin of manpower
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
DWP officials concede they’re hampered by budget restraints, manpower limitations, long project timelines and the sizable footprint of the repairs needed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
IDF leaders have warned of looming manpower shortages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
"We started to suffer a lack of manpower on the battlefield, constant losses," he recalls.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Even before becoming defence chief, Fedorov 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 ● Jul. 16, 2026
As Germany grew more desperate for manpower during the last months of war, the army offered Karl Schnibbe, who was jailed for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, the opportunity to restore his honor by fighting for Germany.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
