# masse

/ˈmæs/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/masse
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a large amount or a big group of something. It is often used in the phrase 'en masse' to describe many people doing something together.

For teachers: a large body of matter with no definite shape; a collective whole. Most frequently encountered in the adverbial phrase 'en masse', which describes a group acting as a single unit.

## Examples

- The crowd moved en masse toward the exit.
- When the factory announced the new safety rules, the workers walked out en masse to protest the changes.
- The migratory birds took flight en masse, creating a dark, shifting cloud that stretched across the horizon for several miles.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They left in masse" but "They left en masse" — The phrase is a direct loan from French and always uses 'en' rather than the English preposition 'in'.

## Usage notes

- Primarily used in the French loan phrase 'en masse', which functions as an adverbial phrase meaning 'all together'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.