ENGLISH
REFERENCE

the masses

idiom
Meaning

Ordinary people thought of as one large group, especially in contrast to the powerful or the elite. It can sound slightly grand or disapproving. "The phone was cheap enough for the masses."


Examples
SIMPLE

The new phone was priced for the masses.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician's simple slogans were designed to appeal to the masses rather than to experts.

COMPLEX

Streaming platforms promised culture for the masses, then quietly used what the masses watched to decide which stories would ever be told again.

Last updated July 27, 2026