noun
personnel
pur-suh-NEHL
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."
2
The department that handles hiring and staff matters within a company.
"She works in personnel, dealing with new hires and payroll."
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
Word Forms
personnels plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “personnel”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
All _____ must wear identification badges at all times.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from French personnel, "staff."