populace
- 01 C1 Advanced
the ordinary people of a country, especially when compared to the people who rule them.
the common people of a nation or community as a whole, often contrasted with the ruling elite.
Simple“The government needs to listen to the concerns of the general populace.”
In context“The new tax laws were met with widespread resentment among the general populace, leading to protests in the capital.”
UsageUsually takes a singular verb, though it refers to a group of people.
PitfallThe populaces were unhappy. The populace was unhappy.Populace is usually treated as a collective singular noun, similar to 'public' or 'population'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
all the people who live in a specific city, region, or area.
the entire body of inhabitants of a particular place or administrative division.
Simple“Nearly half of the local populace works in the tourism industry.”
In context“The sudden influx of refugees significantly altered the demographic composition of the local populace within a single decade.”
UsageOften preceded by a qualifying adjective like 'local', 'rural', or 'urban'.
Synonyms
From Middle French populace, from Italian popolaccio. Compare demotic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.