: the ordinary people in a country who do not have special power or privileges
She is well-liked as a senator because she listens to the people.
the common people
US, law
—used to refer to the government of the U.S. or of a particular state in the name of a legal case
The People vs. John Doe
Examples of the people in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2024
Who are the people accused of plotting to overthrow the government?
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2024
The behavior of the people supporting OnlyWatch was extremely friendly.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024
That means fostering direct interactions with the people being served, said Jessica Rodell, which can help ensure employees return for future volunteering.
—James Pollard, Quartz, 28 Apr. 2024
But through the darkness, she’s also seen good from the people of Metropolis.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The film centers on the James Webb Space Telescope’s visual legacy and the people behind it.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
For Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the call is personal: her 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is counted among the people still being held captive.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
The father of a woman killed following a carjacking caught on camera in Florida is remembering her while investigators still search for the people responsible.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024
Noun
The guy was oozing charisma, and had charmed the people around him out of their wits.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2024
Who are the people accused of plotting to overthrow the government?
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2024
The behavior of the people supporting OnlyWatch was extremely friendly.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024
That means fostering direct interactions with the people being served, said Jessica Rodell, which can help ensure employees return for future volunteering.
—James Pollard, Quartz, 28 Apr. 2024
But through the darkness, she’s also seen good from the people of Metropolis.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The film centers on the James Webb Space Telescope’s visual legacy and the people behind it.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
For Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the call is personal: her 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is counted among the people still being held captive.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
The father of a woman killed following a carjacking caught on camera in Florida is remembering her while investigators still search for the people responsible.
—Pilar Arias, Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the people.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the people
Cite this Entry
“The people.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20people. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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