personnel

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.

“Personnel” is pronounced pur-suh-NEHL (/pɝ.səˈnɛl/ in IPA).

Here is “personnel” used in a sentence: “All personnel must wear identification badges at all times.”

“Personnel” is a noun.

The word “personnel” comes from French. Borrowed directly from French personnel, "staff.".

“Personnel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“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.

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.

"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.

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.