personnel
pur-suh-NEHL
Personnel (noun) means the people who work for an organization, such as a company or the military. Example: “All personnel must wear identification badges at all times.”
noun
1
The people who work for an organization, such as a company or the military.
"All personnel must wear identification badges at all times."
"Military personnel were deployed to help with the flood relief."
"The airline trains its ground personnel every year to handle emergencies."
2
The department that handles hiring and staff matters within a company.
"She works in personnel, dealing with new hires and payroll."
"Please send your application form to personnel by Friday."
"The manager from personnel will call you about your holiday entitlement."
How to use personnel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe staff of an organization, or the department that manages them.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "personal" (private, individual) — these two words are easy to mix up in spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
military personnel
personnel department
qualified personnel
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like personnel.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- personnels
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
All _____ must wear identification badges at all times.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from French personnel, "staff."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “personnel” mean?
The word “personnel” means the people who work for an organization, such as a company or the military. In plain terms, the staff of an organization, or the department that manages them.
How do you pronounce “personnel”?
“Personnel” is pronounced pur-suh-NEHL (/pɝ.səˈnɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “personnel” in a sentence?
Here is “personnel” used in a sentence: “All personnel must wear identification badges at all times.”
What part of speech is “personnel”?
“Personnel” is a noun.
Where does the word “personnel” come from?
The word “personnel” comes from French. Borrowed directly from French personnel, "staff.".
Is “personnel” a common word?
“Personnel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “personnel” have?
“Personnel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the people who work for an organization, such as a company or the military.
What is the difference between personnel and personal?
Despite sounding similar, they are unrelated. "Personnel" (stressed at the end) is a noun meaning the staff or employees of an organization: "military personnel." "Personal" (stressed at the start) is an adjective meaning private or belonging to one individual: "personal belongings." A common tip: personnel ends in "-nel," like the people on a payroll.
Is personnel singular or plural?
"Personnel" is a collective noun. It usually takes a plural verb because it refers to a group of people: "all personnel are required to attend." It has no separate plural form — you never say "personnels." It can occasionally be treated as singular when the workforce is viewed as one unit, but plural agreement is standard.
What is the difference between personnel and staff?
The two are largely interchangeable, both meaning the people who work for an organization. "Personnel" is slightly more formal and official, common in military, corporate, and administrative settings. "Staff" is the everyday word used in most workplaces. "Personnel" also once named the HR department — "the personnel office" — now usually called human resources.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include personnel:
