populace
n. countablen. all the people who live in a particular country or area. It is often used when talking about how a government or leader treats the people.
n. the people living in a particular country or area, viewed as a collective body. Often used in political or sociological contexts to distinguish the general public from the ruling elite.
The local populace is happy with the new park.
The government struggled to convince the skeptical populace that the new tax laws would benefit the economy in the long run.
Historians often examine how a disenfranchised populace reacts to sudden economic shifts, as these moments frequently serve as the primary catalysts for significant social and political upheaval.
From Middle French populace, from Italian popolaccio. Compare demotic.
Usually takes a singular verb, but can take a plural verb in British English when referring to the individuals within the group.
The populaces are voting today.The populace is voting today.Populace is a collective noun; it is rarely used in the plural unless referring to the populations of multiple different countries.