people
n. C / Un. more than one person. You use this word to talk about humans in general or a specific group.
n. the plural form of person, referring to human beings collectively or as a group. Often functions as the collective body of citizens within a nation or ethnic group.
There are many people in the park today.
Most people prefer to spend their holidays with family rather than traveling alone to a new city.
The history of a nation is often best understood through the daily lives of its people rather than the grand proclamations of its political leaders.
From Middle English puple, peple, peeple, from Anglo-Norman people, from Old French pueple, peuple, pople, from Latin populus (“a people, nation”), from Old Latin populus, from earlier poplus, from even earlier poplos, from Proto-Italic *poplos (“army”) of unknown origin. Doublet of pueblo. Gradually ousted native English lede and, partially, folk. Originally used with singular verbs (e.g. "the people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness" in the King James Version of 2 Samuel 17:29), the plural aspect of people is probably due to influence from Middle English lede, leed, a plural since Old English times; see lēode.
From Middle English peplen, peuplien, partly from Middle French peupler (from peuple (“people”)) and partly from the noun (etymology 1).
Usually functions as the plural of 'person'. When used as a countable noun ('a people', 'many peoples'), it refers specifically to an ethnic group or nationality.
The peoples are happy.The people are happy.Learners often add 's' to make it plural, but 'people' is already the plural form of 'person' in general contexts.
- 01
all things to all people
Someone or something that entirely satisfies the expectations of everyone, no matter how diverse and conflicting those expectations may be.
- 02
beautiful people
Fashionable, privileged, glamorous people, especially those belonging to international high society; the beau monde.
- 03
man of the people
A man, usually a celebrity or political leader, who shows understanding of and sympathy for the concerns of ordinary people, and who has a rapport with and acceptance by them.