people

1 of 2

noun

peo·​ple ˈpē-pəl How to pronounce people (audio)
plural people
1
plural : human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest
2
plural : human beings, persons
often used in compounds instead of persons
salespeople
often used attributively
people skills
3
plural : the members of a family or kinship
4
plural : the mass of a community as distinguished from a special class
disputes between the people and the nobles
often used by Communists to distinguish Communists from other people
5
plural peoples : a body of persons that are united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, that typically have common language, institutions, and beliefs, and that often constitute a politically organized group
6
: lower animals usually of a specified kind or situation
7
: the body of enfranchised citizens of a state
peopleless adjective

people

2 of 2

verb

peopled; peopling ˈpē-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce people (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to supply or fill with people
2
: to dwell in : inhabit

Examples of people in a Sentence

Noun People can be really cruel sometimes. People think the coach should be fired. She tends to annoy people. People say it's impossible, but I'm still going to try. a book for young people a people who migrated across the Bering Strait the native peoples of Mexico Verb a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
These challenges to racial-justice programs will have a lasting impact on the nation’s ability to address the vast disparities that Black people experience. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The explanation for Tom’s disappearance is preposterous, but makes a certain amount of sense within the movie’s underdog view of stunt people. Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 So were six other protesters from a crowd of about 200 people. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Notices had started to pop up on TikTok; Facebook forums were advising people which beauty salons to attend, and suspicious websites were promising stock. Ashleigh Furlong, Fortune Europe, 13 Mar. 2024 There’s actually a bunch of people from your generation who act and make music. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 But by targeting TikTok, lawmakers are singling out a platform popular with millions of people, many of whom skew younger, just months before an election. Kevin Freking, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 Additionally, the county has helped 922 people connect with food support since Jan. 24, including getting over 800 approved for disaster benefits through CalFresh, the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Three people have already won $25 million — the highest sum offered. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Artist Paul Deo’s work is peopled with a galaxy of Black stars –limitless luminaries in politics, entertainment, and resistance. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024 Knitting together so many divergent themes, Troll Knoll has its own mythology, peopled by Morris with Far Western Rinkydinks and Wackerbacks. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Instead of Iron Man or the Hulk, Bonelli’s back catalog features tales peopled with human characters. Boris Sollazzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2023 For all their opacity, Whistler’s street scenes are alive, peopled with crowds at a bazaar or peering in windows. Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 Mongolia, in the international cinematic imagination, tends to be largely defined by the rugged lyricism of its rural landscapes, peopled by grizzled nomads and eagle hunters, and of course, celebrated as the birthplace of conquering warlord Genghis Khan. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023 Under existing rules, the country that people first land in must take responsibility for them. Lorne Cook, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Apr. 2023 Her narrative is peopled with physicians and psychologists heartlessly and casually breaching their professional responsibilities. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023 One is peopled by characters who know about Peggy Jo and her exploits, including a waitress who knew Peggy Jo as a regular. Chris Vognar, Chron, 1 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'people.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English peple, from Anglo-French pople, peple, peuple, from Latin populus

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French popler, poeplier, from pople

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of people was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near people

Cite this Entry

“People.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/people. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

people

1 of 2 noun
peo·​ple ˈpē-pəl How to pronounce people (audio)
plural people
1
plural : human beings, persons
often used in compounds instead of persons
salespeople
2
plural : the members of a family : kindred
3
plural : the mass of a community as distinguished from a special class
4
plural peoples : a body of persons united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, and usually language
5
: the body of voters of a state

people

2 of 2 verb
peopled; peopling ˈpē-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce people (audio)
1
: to supply or fill with people
2

More from Merriam-Webster on people

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