# people

/ˈpipəɫ/ (US) · /pˈiːpəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/people
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. more than one person

noun · CEFR A1

the plural of 'person'; you use this to talk about a group of humans.

For teachers: the standard plural of 'person' used to refer to a body of individuals collectively.

- There were so many people at the concert that we couldn't see the stage.
- The survey indicates that most people prefer working from home at least two days a week to improve their work-life balance.

Usage: functions as the plural of 'person' but takes a plural verb.

### 2. a nation or ethnic group

noun · CEFR B1

a group of people who belong to the same country, race, or culture.

For teachers: a body of persons sharing a common religion, culture, language, or inherited condition of life.

- The indigenous people of this region have lived here for thousands of years.
- The museum's latest exhibition explores the history and traditions of the various peoples of the Amazon basin.

Usage: In this sense, 'people' is a countable singular noun and can be pluralised as 'peoples'.

### 3. family or relatives

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

your family members or the people you come from.

For teachers: one's ancestors, relatives, or immediate family members.

- I am going back to my hometown to spend the holidays with my people.
- He felt a strong urge to visit the village where his people had lived before emigrating in the late nineteenth century.

### 4. the general public

noun · CEFR B2

the ordinary citizens of a country, rather than the leaders or the rich.

For teachers: the mass of a community as distinguished from a special class or elite.

- The politician claimed to represent the will of the people.
- The revolution was driven by the people's desire for greater economic equality and political representation.

### 5. to populate an area

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to fill a place with people or characters.

For teachers: to stock with inhabitants or to occupy a space; often used in the context of fiction or history.

- The author likes to people her books with strange and interesting characters.
- The valley was once peopled by a thriving community of farmers before the industrial revolution drew them to the cities.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.