people

Definition of people

1human beings in general or considered collectively:the earthquake killed 30,000 people people think I’m mad
(the people) the citizens of a country, especially when considered in relation to those who govern them:his reforms no longer have the support of the people
(the people) the members of a society without special rank or position:he is very much a man of the people
(the People) US the state prosecution in a trial:pre-trial statements made by the People’s witnesses

2 (plural peoples) [treated as singular or plural] the members of a particular nation, community, or ethnic group:the native peoples of Canada

3 (one's people) one’s supporters or employees:I’ve had my people watching the house for some time now

4 (one's people) dated one’s parents or relatives:my people live in Warwickshire

[with object]

(of a group of people) inhabit (a place):an arid mountain region peopled by warring clans
fill or be present in (a place or domain):in her imagination the flat was suddenly peopled with ghosts
fill (a place) with inhabitants:it was his intention to people the town with English colonists

Derivatives

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French poeple, from Latin populus 'populace'

Remember that people begins with peo-; the ending is -le.

some people prefer eating outdoors.

Definition of people in the US English dictionary