the people

1 of 2

noun (1)

: 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

the People

2 of 2

noun (2)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Mariscal says the resentment toward studio brass — the people who decide where and when a movie shoots — hasn’t been this raw since the dual strikes last year. Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025 Interest in Pope Leo XIV, and in the people who knew him earlier in his life, has been intense. Sarah Mervosh, New York Times, 9 May 2025 The ACMs’ producers seemed to have an agenda that went beyond just going with the will of the people in affording Wilson and Langley so many nominations and wins. Chris Willman, Variety, 9 May 2025 Pope Leo, who did missionary work in South America, paid tribute to the people of Peru as well as the citizens of Rome. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for the people

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The people.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20people. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!