people

[ pee-puhl ]

/ ˈpi pəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: people / peopled / peoples / peopling on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural peo·ples for 4.

persons indefinitely or collectively; persons in general: to find it easy to talk to people; What will people think?

persons, whether men, women, or children, considered as numerable individuals forming a group: Twenty people volunteered to help.

human beings, as distinguished from animals or other beings.

the entire body of persons who constitute a community, tribe, nation, or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, religion, or the like: the people of Australia; the Jewish people.

the persons of any particular group, company, or number (sometimes used in combination): the people of a parish; educated people; salespeople.

the ordinary persons, as distinguished from those who have wealth, rank, influence, etc.: a man of the people.

the subjects, followers, or subordinates of a ruler, leader, employer, etc.: the king and his people.

the body of enfranchised citizens of a state: representatives chosen by the people.

a person's family or relatives: My grandmother's people came from Iowa.

(used in the possessive in Communist or left-wing countries to indicate that an institution operates under the control of or for the benefit of the people, especially under Communist leadership): people's republic; people's army.

animals of a specified kind: the monkey people of the forest.

verb (used with object), peo·pled, peo·pling.

to furnish with people; populate.

to supply or stock as if with people: a meadow peopled with flowers.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of people

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English peple, from Anglo-French poeple, Old French pueple, from Latin populus; see popular

synonym study for people

4. See race².

grammar notes for people

Is the plural persons or people? See person.

usage note for people

People is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun: People are always looking for a bargain. The people have made their choice. The possessive is formed regularly, with the apostrophe before the -s: people's desire for a bargain; the people's choice. When people means “the entire body of persons who constitute a community or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, etc.,” it is used as a singular, with the plural peoples : This people shares characteristics with certain inhabitants of central Asia. The aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere speak many different languages. The formation of the possessive is regular; the singular is people's and the plural is peoples '.
At one time, some usage guides maintained that people could not be preceded by a number, as in Fewer than 30 people showed up. This use is now unquestionably standard in all contexts.

OTHER WORDS FROM people

peo·ple·less, adjectivepeopler, nounoutpeople, verb (used with object), out·peo·pled, out·peo·pling.un·der·peo·pled, adjective

well-peopled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH people

people , persons (see grammar note at person)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use people in a sentence

He said he hoped their “shed blood [would] act as a seed of hope in order to build authentic brotherhood among peoples.”
Catholic Nuns Aiding Africa's Battered Wives Are Raped and Murdered|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the Roman orator Cicero felt that Calgacus and the peoples vanquished by Rome were missing a broader point.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1905, a group of Indians from a variety of native peoples united to entrench “tribal sovereignty” against federal power.
One U.S. Constitution Just Wasn’t Enough|Tom Arnold-Forster|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And white supremacists continue to advocate for a homeland in the Pacific Northwest for “the Aryan peoples of the earth.”
One U.S. Constitution Just Wasn’t Enough|Tom Arnold-Forster|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Maps have long served to formalize authority over peoples and their lands and resources.
Should Google Be Mapping Tribal Lands?|Grace-Yvette Gemmell|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An inconceivable revolution in the thought of the English speaking peoples has taken place in respect to it.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Outside Rome, showing the same ideas at work among neighbouring peoples, was the 'golden bough' in the grove of Diana at Aricia.
The Religion of Ancient Rome|Cyril Bailey
The rustlers have been stealing your cattle and a lot of other peoples for a long time, havent they?
The Adventure Girls at K Bar O|Clair Blank
This art is not practised by the surrounding peoples, and is the strongest evidence of a community of origin.
Man And His Ancestor|Charles Morris
All the ancient civilized peoples used ropes and cordage, made from such flexible materials as their countries afforded.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various

British Dictionary definitions for people

people

/ (ˈpiːpəl) /

noun (usually functioning as plural)

persons collectively or in general

a group of persons considered togetherblind people

plural peoples the persons living in a country and sharing the same nationalitythe French people

one's familyhe took her home to meet his people

persons loyal to someone powerfulthe king's people accompanied him in exile

the people

the mass of persons without special distinction, privileges, etc
the body of persons in a country, esp those entitled to vote

verb

(tr) to provide with or as if with people or inhabitants

Word Origin for people

C13: from Old French pople, from Latin populus; see populace

undefined people

See person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with people

people

In addition to the idiom beginning with people

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

also see:

tell (people) apart

people

Origin of people

synonym study for people

grammar notes for people

usage note for people

OTHER WORDS FROM people

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH people

Words related to people

How to use people in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for people

Word Origin for people

undefined people

Other Idioms and Phrases with people