plural
PLOOR-ruhl
Plural (adj) means referring to more than one of something. Example: “Cats" is the plural form of "cat".”
adj
1
Referring to more than one of something.
"The notion of culture is one whose meanings are plural and shifting."
""Cats" is the plural form of "cat"."
"The teacher asked us to rewrite each singular noun in its plural form."
""Children" is a plural word, so it takes a plural verb."
noun
1
The grammatical form of a word used for more than one thing.
"Add an "s" to form the plural of most English nouns."
"The plural of "mouse" is "mice", which many learners find hard to remember."
"Is the plural of "sheep" the same as the singular?"
How to use plural
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribing or referring to more than one item; the grammatical opposite of singular.
Common mistake
Irregular plurals (child/children, mouse/mice) don't follow the standard add-an-"s" rule.
Common pairings
plural noun
plural form
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Word forms
- Plural
- plurals
- Comparative
- more plural
- Superlative
- most plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Cats" is the _____ form of "cat".
Etymology
From Latin "plūrālis", from "plūs, plūris" (more).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for plural
rural
mural
neural
natural
cultural
epidural
subdural
guttural
unnatural
inaugural
structural
procedural
See all rhymes for plural →
Frequently asked questions
What does “plural” mean?
The word “plural” means referring to more than one of something. In plain terms, describing or referring to more than one item; the grammatical opposite of singular.
How do you pronounce “plural”?
“Plural” is pronounced PLOOR-ruhl (/ˈplʊɹ.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “plural” in a sentence?
Here is “plural” used in a sentence: “"Cats" is the plural form of "cat".”
What is another word for “plural”?
Words with a similar meaning to “plural” include multiple.
What is the opposite of “plural”?
The opposite of “plural” — its antonyms — is singular.
What part of speech is “plural”?
Depending on how it is used, “plural” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “plural” come from?
The word “plural” comes from Latin. From Latin "plūrālis", from "plūs, plūris" (more).
Is “plural” a common word?
“Plural” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between plural and multiple?
Plural is specifically a grammatical term referring to the word form used for more than one thing, such as "cats" versus "cat," while multiple is a broader adjective meaning more than one of something without any grammatical implication.
How do you form the plural of most English nouns?
Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es to the singular form, such as "book" becoming "books" or "box" becoming "boxes," though many common nouns have irregular plural forms that don't follow this pattern.
What is the difference between singular and plural?
Singular refers to exactly one of something, while plural refers to more than one, and this distinction affects verb agreement, pronoun choice, and noun endings throughout English grammar.
