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people

[ pee-puhl ]
/ ˈpi pəl /
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See synonyms for: people / peopled / peoples / peopling on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural peo·ples for 4.
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.
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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

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

British Dictionary definitions for people

people
/ (ˈpiːpəl) /

noun (usually functioning as plural)
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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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