townspeople

[tounz-pee-puhl]

plural noun

1. the inhabitants or citizenry of a town.

2. people person who were raised in a town or city.

townspeople

/ ˈtaʊnzˌpiːpəl, ˈtaʊnzˌfəʊk /

noun

1. the inhabitants of a town; citizens

Word History and Origins

Origin of townspeople¹

First recorded in 1640–50; town + 's ¹ + people

Example Sentences

In what Mr. Hoyos calls “an amoral act of public policy,” Scipio massacred the townspeople of Ilugo for killing survivors of his father’s and uncle’s defeats who had sought refuge there five years earlier.

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Both feel socially ill at ease up against “the townspeople of Pennacook,” another refrain.

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The townspeople were objecting to local government taking private property and turning it over to a third party, in the name of some vague public purpose on which the town’s people had never voted.

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Around midnight on April 18, 1775, Revere was ordered to ride to Lexington, Mass., and warn the townspeople that British soldiers, who were quartered in Boston, were ready to head their way.

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The townspeople become angry that they voted in a guy who they thought would target other people — like immigrants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times