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.

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.

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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

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

For some people this time of the year is far from a winter wonderland.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold|Sandra Gutierrez G.|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
This is a medication that’s been used for 65 years by hundreds of millions of people in tens of billions of doses worldwide.
Senate holds hearing on hydroxychloroquine, despite no evidence it works against covid-19|Marisa Iati|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
But, I love when people get together and have good food, good drinks and good conversation.
Zoe Kravits Chats About The Holiday YSL Beauty Collection|Nandi Howard|November 20, 2020|Essence.com
Experiencing natureAlthough many people are afraid of insects, they are a great teaching tool for many reasons.
Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids|By Kawahara, Ennes & Markee/The Conversation|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science

Virginia says it doesn’t know how many people have gotten alerts that they were potentially exposed.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The surest way to strengthen their hold upon the disputed territory was by peopling it.
A short history of Rhode Island|George Washington Greene
The honor of peopling America has frequently been given to Noah and his immediate descendants.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 5|Hubert Howe Bancroft
For the peopling and maintenance of the Home a novel and very pretty device has been invented.
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 156, April 9, 1919|Various
As the peopling of the earth has been a gradual process with the animal creation, so has it been also with the vegetable kingdom.
Epidemics Examined and Explained: or, Living Germs Proved by Analogy to be a Source of Disease|John Grove
It is generally believed that Africa played an important rle in the peopling of our continent, but this is quite a mistake.
The History of the European Fauna|R. F. Scharff

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