1peo·ple 
/ˈpi:pəl/ noun
/ˈpi:pəl/ noun 1 [plural] a : individual human beings ◊This sense of people is the plural of person.
▪ We met all sorts of people on the trip. ▪ rich/poor people ▪ The neighbors are nice people. ▪ The people next door own a dog.
b : human beings as a group : all or most people
▪ He doesn't care what people think of him. [=he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him] ▪ People can be really cruel sometimes. ▪ People think the coach should be fired. ▪ She tends to annoy people. ▪ People say it's impossible, but I'm still going to try. 2 [plural] : a group of people who share a quality, interest, etc.
▪ a book for young people ▪ the American people ▪ The environmental people [=the people who are interested in protecting the environment] are against the town's plan to build more houses along the river. ▪ city people [=people who live in cities] — often used in compounds ▪ businesspeople [=people whose jobs involve business] ▪ salespeople 3 plural peoples [count] : a group of people who make up a race, tribe, nation, etc.
▪ a people who migrated across the Bering Strait ▪ the native peoples of Mexico ▪ peoples of Asia 4 a the people : 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 ▪ He is a man of the people. [=he is someone who understands or is like ordinary people]
b the 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 5 [plural] : people who are related to or connected with someone: such as a literary : people who are ruled or governed by someone
▪ The queen was loved by her people.
b somewhat old-fashioned : family members : people you are related to
▪ She is visiting her people [=folks, family] in Texas. ▪ Where are your people from?
c : the people who work for you or your company, organization, etc.
▪ Our people are working hard to restore electricity to the city.
▪ We met all sorts of people on the trip. ▪ rich/poor people ▪ The neighbors are nice people. ▪ The people next door own a dog.
b : human beings as a group : all or most people
▪ He doesn't care what people think of him. [=he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him] ▪ People can be really cruel sometimes. ▪ People think the coach should be fired. ▪ She tends to annoy people. ▪ People say it's impossible, but I'm still going to try.
▪ a book for young people ▪ the American people ▪ The environmental people [=the people who are interested in protecting the environment] are against the town's plan to build more houses along the river. ▪ city people [=people who live in cities] — often used in compounds ▪ businesspeople [=people whose jobs involve business] ▪ salespeople
▪ a people who migrated across the Bering Strait ▪ the native peoples of Mexico ▪ peoples of Asia
▪ She is well-liked as a senator because she listens to the people. ▪ the common people ▪ He is a man of the people. [=he is someone who understands or is like ordinary people]
b the 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
▪ The queen was loved by her people.
b somewhat old-fashioned : family members : people you are related to
▪ She is visiting her people [=folks, family] in Texas. ▪ Where are your people from?
c : the people who work for you or your company, organization, etc.
▪ Our people are working hard to restore electricity to the city.
good people
US, informal + old-fashioned : an honest, helpful, or morally good person
▪ I like him; he's good people.
▪ I like him; he's good people.
of all people
— used to emphasize that a specified person is the person you most or least expect to do or know something ▪ You, of all people, should know the answer to this. [=I expect you to know the answer to this] ▪ My best friend, of all people, betrayed me. [=I was very surprised that my best friend betrayed me]
