personnel

[pur-suh-nel]

noun

1. a body of persons employed in an organization or place of work.

2. (used with a plural verb),  persons.

   All personnel are being given the day off.

3. personnel department.

personnel

/ ˌpɜːsəˈnɛl /

noun

1. the people employed in an organization or for a service or undertaking Compare materiel

2. 1. Also called: human resources. the office or department that interviews, appoints, or keeps records of employees

   2. ( as modifier )

      a personnel officer

Usage

Some usage guides object to the use of personnel as a plural. However, this use is well established and standard in all varieties of speech and writing. The use of personnel with a preceding number is largely restricted to business and government communications: Six personnel were transferred.

Word History and Origins

Origin of personnel¹

1825–35; < French, noun use of personnel (adj.) personal < Late Latin persōnāle, neuter of persōnālis; replacing personal (noun), Anglicized form of French personnel; compare German Personal, variant of Personale, Italian personale. See matériel

Word History and Origins

Origin of personnel¹

C19: from French, ultimately from Late Latin persōnālis personal (adj); see _person

Example Sentences

California government code specifically prevents public entities and employees from being held “liable for any injury resulting from the failure to provide or maintain sufficient personnel, equipment or other fire protection facilities.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

DOJ officials framed the action as enforcement of federal civil-rights protections — the Voting Rights Act and related laws — and said Civil Rights personnel would be available to receive complaints and coordinate with U.S.

Read more on Salon

The U.S. military occupied Okinawa until 1972 and though the archipelago constitutes only 0.6% of the country’s landmass, it still hosts more than half of all U.S. military personnel in Japan.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The longer the scene, the more likely it was mostly concocted inside a computer, obviating multiple takes, camera angles and union personnel waiting around to engage in spurts of frenzied action.

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Coast Guard released a statement saying that security personnel saw a vehicle “driving erratically” and reversing toward the base.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cadre 
• crew 
• group 
• organization 
• people 
• staff 
• troop 
• work force www.thesaurus.com