people
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for people, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Human beings in general, or the men, women and children of a particular group, place or nation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Human beings in general, or the men, women and children of a particular group, place or nation.
“Many people enjoy walking in the park on sunny weekends.”
Etymology
From Old French pueple, from Latin populus ("a people, nation") — related to "populate" and "pueblo."
Full origin of people →Frequently asked questions
What does “people” mean?
The word “people” means to fill a place with inhabitants; to populate. In plain terms, most often a noun meaning "human beings collectively," but it can also be a verb meaning to fill somewhere with inhabitants.
How do you pronounce “people”?
“People” is pronounced PEE-puhl (/ˈpi.pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “people” in a sentence?
Here is “people” used in a sentence: “Early settlers peopled the valley over several generations.”
What part of speech is “people”?
“People” is a verb.
Where does the word “people” come from?
The word “people” comes from Latin. From Old French pueple, from Latin populus ("a people, nation") — related to "populate" and "pueblo.".
Is “people” a common word?
“People” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “people” have?
“People” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fill a place with inhabitants; to populate.
Can 'people' be used as a verb?
Yes, though it is uncommon. As a verb, 'to people' means to fill a place with inhabitants — to populate it. It often appears in the passive: 'the valley was peopled by settlers.' It is also used figuratively, as in a story 'peopled with memorable characters.'
What is the difference between 'people' and 'populate'?
Both mean to fill a place with inhabitants, but 'populate' is the everyday, neutral choice, while 'people' as a verb sounds more literary. 'People' also lends itself to figurative use — a book peopled with characters — where 'populate' would feel more technical or statistical.
What is an example of 'people' used as a verb?
'Immigrants peopled the frontier towns' shows the literal sense of filling a place with inhabitants. Figuratively, 'his imagination peopled the empty house with ghosts.' The past tense and past participle are both 'peopled,' and the sense is close to 'populated.'
