: in a body : as a whole
moved the inmates en masse to the new prison

Examples of en masse in a Sentence

Her supporters arrived en masse for the rally.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Slok doesn’t directly state the reason for such a slowdown in his report, many companies are holding their breath, hoping for tensions between China and the U.S. to ease—and tariffs on goods imported from China to come down—before shipping additional goods en masse. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 30 Apr. 2025 Though the reviews have thus far been mixed, the differences of opinion around the show haven’t stopped viewers from binge-watching en masse since its April 3 premiere. Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Emerging once every 17 years, Brood XIV is the second-largest group of periodical cicadas — which rise from underground en masse — and will be the only group this spring. Taylor Johnston, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, the infected attack the city of Jackson en masse. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for en masse

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of en masse was in 1795

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Cite this Entry

“En masse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/en%20masse. Accessed 12 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

en masse

adverb
: in a body : as a whole

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