: 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
Ari Daniel, NPR, 27 Apr. 2025
The church is a Baroque jewel in an area populated by migrants, the homeless, and the poor—the people Francis had long sought to uplift.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
This was in keeping with his aim during his papacy to eschew formalities and bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the people.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Arenas' family shared a statement from one of the people who helped him out of the car after the wreck.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the people
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Noun
Yet it was reportedly never visited by Europeans (even though there was contact — the people of Kaabu did trade with the Europeans).
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 27 Apr. 2025
The church is a Baroque jewel in an area populated by migrants, the homeless, and the poor—the people Francis had long sought to uplift.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
This was in keeping with his aim during his papacy to eschew formalities and bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the people.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Arenas' family shared a statement from one of the people who helped him out of the car after the wreck.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the people
Cite this Entry
“The people.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20people. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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