First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1people
noun peo·ple \ˈpē-pəl\
plural people
Definition of PEOPLE
1
plural : humans 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
— peo·ple·less \-pə(l)-ləs\ adjective
See people defined for English-language learners
See people defined for kids
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Origin of PEOPLE
Middle English peple, from Anglo-French pople, peple, peuple, from Latin populus
Other Anthropology Terms
Rhymes with PEOPLE
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
1
: to supply or fill with people
2
: 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
- Antonyms
- depopulate, unpeople
PEOPLE[1] Defined for Kids
1people
noun peo·ple \ˈpē-pəl\
plural people or peoples
Definition of PEOPLE for Kids
1
: all persons considered together <“Love makes people act crazy.” — Pam Zollman, Don't Bug Me!>
2
: 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>
3
: 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
1
: 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>
2
: to dwell on or in <Farmers people this part of the state.>
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