peoples

peo·ple

 (pē′pəl)

n. pl. people

1.

a. Humans considered as a group or in indefinite numbers. Often treated as a plural of person, especially in compounds: People were dancing in the street. I met all sorts of people. This book is not intended for laypeople.

b. The mass of ordinary persons; the populace. Used with the: "those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes" (Thomas Jefferson).

2.

a. A body of persons living in the same country under one national government; a nationality.

b. The citizens of a political unit, such as a nation or state; the electorate. Used with the.

3. pl. peo·ples A body of persons sharing a common religion, culture, or language: the peoples of central Asia.

4.

a. Persons with regard to their residence, class, profession, or group: city people; farming people.

b. Persons subordinate to or loyal to a ruler, superior, or employer: The manager would like to introduce you to our people in the regional office.

c. A person's family, relatives, or ancestors: Where are your people from?

5. Informal Animals or other beings distinct from humans: Rabbits and squirrels are the furry little people of the woods.

tr.v. peo·pled, peo·pling, peo·ples

1. To settle or inhabit with people; populate.

2. To be present in or on (a place): "The stores ... are peopled by serious shoppers" (Perri Klass).

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[Middle English peple, from Old French pueple, from Latin populus, of Etruscan origin.]

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peo′pler n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

peoples - the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group; "the indigenous peoples of Australia" plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience"