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.
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.
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.
grammar notes for people
See person.
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)
Words nearby people
Penzance, Penzias, peon, peonage, peony, people, people carrier, peoplehood, people mover, people person, people's commune
Kelly is among those most torn about what to do, according to people who have spoken with him.
Former Pence aide says she will vote for Biden because of Trump’s ‘flat out disregard for human life’ during pandemic|Josh Dawsey|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
I mean, my own view is that that still just resonates with a lot of people in this country.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
We have very few people with it, and the people that have it are … getting better.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Additional investees focus on giving people in underserved and under-resourced communities access to affordable housing.
Bernard Tyson’s profound impact continues even after his death—through a new social investment fund|cleaf2013|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Such a monumental effort would be slowed down without the buy-in of the people who live in and around these buildings.
Europe’s leaders want to create a ‘new Bauhaus’ as part of its Green Deal. But what does that even mean?|David Meyer|September 16, 2020|Fortune
There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Then add in all bored people, as well as people whose job it is to report on celebrities.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’|Marlow Stern|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Was there an investigation of people at DOJ before they arrived at that conclusion?
Ex-CBS Reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s Battle Royale With the Feds|Lloyd Grove|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Grindr currently has twelve ‘tribes,’ and for some people this just is not enough.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When twelve people are killed by violence, whoever they are, for whatever reason, that is a tragedy and a waste.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For a long time cats were dreaded by the people because they thought human beings had been changed to that form by evil means.
The Book of Hallowe'en|Ruth Edna Kelley
A few newspaper proprietors would have been the only people really benefited.
Paul Kelver|Jerome Klapka, AKA Jerome K. Jerome
The rooms are lofty, and all on one floor, because the Burmese do not like to live in rooms with people above.
From Edinburgh to India & Burmah|William G. Burn Murdoch
The arts in general are carried among these people to a greater degree of perfection than by the other natives of Sumatra.
The History of Sumatra|William Marsden
I know his fame as a pious teacher and a learned man, well beloved of his people.
Standish of Standish|Jane G. Austin
British Dictionary definitions for people
people
/ (ˈpiːpəl) /
noun(usually functioning as plural)
persons collectively or in general
a group of persons considered togetherblind people
pluralpeoplesthe 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