person

noun per·son \ ˈpər-sᵊn \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of person

1 : human, individual —sometimes used in combination especially by those who prefer to avoid man in compounds applicable to both sexes

chairperson

spokesperson

2 : a character or part in or as if in a play : guise

3 a : one of the three modes of being in the Trinitarian Godhead as understood by Christians

b : the unitary personality of Christ that unites the divine and human natures

4 a archaic : bodily appearance

b : the body of a human being; also : the body and clothing

unlawful search of the person

5 : the personality of a human being : self

6 : one (such as a human being, a partnership, or a corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties

7 : reference of a segment of discourse to the speaker, to one spoken to, or to one spoken of as indicated by means of certain pronouns or in many languages by verb inflection

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personhood

play \ˈpər-sᵊn-ˌhu̇d\ noun

— in person

: in one's bodily presence

the movie star appeared in person

See person defined for English-language learners

See person defined for kids

Examples of person in a Sentence

She is a very nice person.
I saw a person standing on the dock.
Any person who wants a refund must have a receipt.
Most people here are quite friendly.
The tickets are $25 per person.
The person at the front desk will be able to help you.
The tax break is only applicable to persons in a high income bracket.
I like her as a person, but she is not a very good writer.
The disease is easily transmitted from person to person.
The dogs discovered that the men were hiding drugs about their persons.

Recent Examples of person from the Web

Another reason that a person may end up perpetually tardy is that they are simply engrossed in another activity and lose track of time.

— melissa locker, Southern Living, "Science Says People Who Are Always Late Are More Successful and Live Longer," 17 Apr. 2018
The elderly suicide rate rose from 35 per 100,000 persons in 2000 to 82 in 2010, also far above the OECD average of 22.

— cynthia kim, The Christian Science Monitor, "South Korea's elderly boogie, find connection in daytime discos," 17 Apr. 2018
It can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or from tainted water and food.

— sy mukherjee, Fortune, "Kentucky Is Urging People to Get Hepatitis A Vaccines in the Midst of an Outbreak," 17 Apr. 2018
Some addiction experts have begun partnering with nursing facilities to make sure the addiction treatment a person receives in the hospital isn’t a barrier to the next step in their medical care.

— allison bond, STAT, "Nursing homes routinely refuse people on addiction treatment — which some experts say is illegal," 17 Apr. 2018
At lunch, Pressler told me about his ranch and all of its amenities including a ten person hot tub.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "3 men now accuse 87-year-old former Texas judge, Baptist leader of sexual misconduct | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 17 Apr. 2018
The Indiana attorney general may fine the perpetrator up to $5,000 per violation and suspend any merchant certificates such a person holds.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "Parents beware: The book exchange where you send 1 to get 36 probably won’t work," 17 Apr. 2018
Spending that time with him, what a leader, tremendous person.

— mary kay cabot, cleveland.com, "Browns prospect Baker Mayfield is No. 1 for one analyst and drawing praise from evaluators," 16 Apr. 2018
Sheriff's deputies were called to the Midfield Police Department shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday on a report of a dead person in a car in the parking lot, sheriff's officials said.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "'My brother was a loved man': Family mourns loved one found shot to death outside police station," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'person.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of person

Middle English, from Anglo-French persone, from Latin persona actor's mask, character in a play, person, probably from Etruscan phersu mask, from Greek prosōpa, plural of prosōpon face, mask — more at prosopopoeia

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

person Synonyms

Phrases

son of man;

PERSON Defined for English Language Learners

person

noun

Definition of person for English Language Learners

: a human being
: a person who likes or enjoys something specified
law : the body or clothing of a person especially when considered as a place to hide things

PERSON Defined for Kids

person

noun per·son \ ˈpər-sᵊn \

Definition of person for Students

1 : a human being considered as an individual

I had never heard a person speak Arabic.

Hint: The word person is sometimes used in compounds especially to avoid man in words that apply to both sexes.

chairperson

2 : the body of a human being

Keep your person neat.

Law Dictionary

person

noun per·son

legal Definition of person

1 : natural person

2 : the body of a human being; also : the body and clothing of a human being

had drugs on his person

3 : one (as a human being or corporation) that is recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties — see also juridical person, legal person, personality

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