¹people

noun peo·ple \ˈpē-pəl\

plural people

Definition of PEOPLE

plural : humans making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest

plural : human beings, persons —often used in compounds instead of persons <salespeople> —often used attributively <people skills>

plural : the members of a family or kinship

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

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

: lower animals usually of a specified kind or situation

: the body of enfranchised citizens of a state

— peo·ple·less \-pə(l)-ləs\ adjective

See people defined for English-language learners

See people defined for kids

Origin of PEOPLE

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

Rhymes with PEOPLE

steeple

²people

verb

of people : to live or be in (a place)

: to put people in (something, such as a story)

peo·pledpeo·pling \-p(ə-)liŋ\

Full Definition of PEOPLE

transitive verb

: to supply or fill with people

: to dwell in : inhabit

See people defined for English-language learners

Origin of PEOPLE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PEOPLE

Synonyms: colonize, settle, populate

Antonyms: depopulate, unpeople

PEOPLE Defined for Kids

¹people

noun peo·ple \ˈpē-pəl\

plural people or peoples

Definition of PEOPLE for Kids

: all persons considered together <“Love makes people act crazy.” — Pam Zollman, Don't Bug Me!>

: a group of human beings who have something in common <young people> <the people of Montana> Hint:The word people is often used in compounds instead of persons. <salespeople>

: a body of persons making up a race, tribe, or nation <the peoples of Asia>

²people

verb

peo·pledpeo·pling

Definition of PEOPLE for Kids

: to fill with human beings or a certain type of human beings <… her little world was peopled with imaginary friends … — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women>

: to dwell on or in <Farmers people this part of the state.>