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people

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noun American English pronunciation: people /ˈpip(ə)l/ 
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singularpeople
pluralpeoples
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    the plural of person

    Thousands of people marched in protest.

    The accident left three people dead and many injured.

    young/old people

    a group/crowd of people

    People were running everywhere.

    many/few/some people:

    Many people here would agree with you.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people
    1. a.
      [plural] used for referring to humans in general

      People tend to think that doctors know everything.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people
    2. b.
      [plural] men and women who work for the same organization, do the same type of work, or share the same interests

      military/religious/financial people

      scientifically-minded people

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people
  2. 2

    the people

     [plural] ordinary people who are not members of the government or the upper classes

    On this issue, the government has failed to listen to the people.

    a man/woman of the people:

    Many thought the governor was a man of the people (=a leader who cares about ordinary people).

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people
  3. 3
    [countable] a group consisting of all the persons who belong to a nation, religion, or race

    the Japanese/Spanish/German people

    They are a proud, dignified people.

    Over thousands of years, peoples from central Asia came to settle here.

    people of color:

    We need to discuss issues concerning people of color (=people whose skin is darker than the skin of white people).

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people
  4. 4

    the people

     legal the lawyers representing the U.S. government or a U.S. state in a criminal case

    the case of the people versus the Jameson Financial Company

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of people

phrases

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This is the American English definition of people. View British English definition of people.

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