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.

---

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

See Examples For:

human resources

Jacob Fraijo wrote a human resources employee for information about how many applicants from a “protected class” were disqualified over a yearlong period starting in February 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

It says this will be delivered through plans, among other things, to automate 20% of the MoD's human resources and finance departments by 2028 and by cutting spending on consultants.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

There was no such luck for Ismael Veranes, the round-faced human resources director of Cuba's national theater.

From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026

Founded in 2016, Factorial developed a platform for human resources, finance and tech teams, initially banking on a model known as software-as-a-service for which companies charge clients who subscribe to a platform or other service.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

I did not know anyone—besides the human resources manager at my father's work—who had one car, let alone three.

From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda