people
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.
to furnish with people; populate.
to supply or stock as if with people: a meadow peopled with flowers.
Origin of people
1synonym study For people
Grammar notes for people
usage note For people
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, adjective
- peopler, noun
- outpeople, 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for people
/ (ˈpiːpəl) /
persons collectively or in general
a group of persons considered together: blind people
plural peoples the persons living in a country and sharing the same nationality: the French people
one's family: he took her home to meet his people
persons loyal to someone powerful: the 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
(tr) to provide with or as if with people or inhabitants
Origin of people
1people
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
In addition to the idiom beginning with people
- people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
also see:
- tell (people) apart
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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