: 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
Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
In 2022, scientists in the Netherlands discovered that microplastics are present in the blood of 77% of the people tested.
—Kevin Anderton, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
In one of the most important cases of the social media age, free speech and national security collide at the Supreme Court on Friday in arguments over the fate of TikTok, a wildly popular digital platform that roughly half the people in the United States use for entertainment and information.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025
Heartbroken for my family, my friends, and the people of L.A. affected by these catastrophic fires.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the people 
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Noun
Ironically, the people most blocking the younger millennials’ way are Gen Xers.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
In 2022, scientists in the Netherlands discovered that microplastics are present in the blood of 77% of the people tested.
—Kevin Anderton, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
In one of the most important cases of the social media age, free speech and national security collide at the Supreme Court on Friday in arguments over the fate of TikTok, a wildly popular digital platform that roughly half the people in the United States use for entertainment and information.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2025
Heartbroken for my family, my friends, and the people of L.A. affected by these catastrophic fires.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the people
Dictionary Entries Near the people
Cite this Entry
“The people.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20people. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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