people - person

◊ 'people'

People is a plural noun. You use a plural form of a verb after it.

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People is most commonly used to refer to a particular group of men and women.

There were 120 people at the lecture.

We'll talk to the people concerned and see how they feel.

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People can also be used to refer to a group of men, women, and children.

...the Great Fire of Chicago, when 250 people were killed.

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You often use people to refer to all the men, women, and children of a particular country, tribe, or race.

The American people were antagonistic to his regime.

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◊ 'peoples'

When you are referring to the men, women, and children of several countries, tribes, or races, you can use the plural form peoples.

Mediterranean peoples gesticulate more freely than northern Europeans.

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◊ another use of 'people'

People can also be used to say that something is generally done.

People have an enduring tendency to protect what they have.

She could not resist being unkind to people.

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Note that there are several ways of saying that something is generally done. For more information, see entry at ↑ one.

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◊ 'person'

Person is a count noun. A person is an individual man, woman, or child.

There was far too much meat for one person.

They think you are a suitable person to join the church.

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The usual plural of `person' is people, but in formal English persons is sometimes used.

The bomb exploded killing 111 persons.

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