townspeople

plural noun

towns·​peo·​ple ˈtau̇nz-ˌpē-pəl 

1

: the inhabitants of a town or city : townsmen

2

: town-dwelling or town-bred persons

Examples of townspeople in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The townspeople agreed, and the piper began to play a lively tune upon his fife. — Simon Rich, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

The townspeople's cattle are being stolen. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

More than 60 townspeople watched quietly as the suspects were read, one by one, warrants charging them with the mass murder of six members of this local pioneer farm family. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 May 2026

The movie is set in a 13th-century English village and follows the townspeople as a mysterious, folkloric creature stalks their village. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for townspeople

• people
• steeple
• businesspeople
• craftspeople
• laypeople
• salespeople
• tradespeople
• workpeople

Kids Definition

townspeople

plural noun

towns·​peo·​ple ˈtau̇nz-ˌpē-pəl 

: the people who live in a town or city