Populace

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpÉ’pjÊŠlÉ™s/
• US enPR: päpʹyÉ™-lÉ™s, IPA: /ˈpÉ‘pjÉ™lÉ™s/
• Homophones: populous

Origin

From Middle French populace, from Italian popolaccio.

Full definition of populace

Noun

1. The common people of a nation.
• The populace despised their ignorant leader.
• 2006, w, Internal Combustion Chapter 2, Throughout the 1500s, the populace roiled over a constellation of grievances of which the forest emerged as a key focal point. The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.
2. The inhabitants of a nation.

Usage notes

Do not confuse populace (a noun) with populous (an adjective).

Synonyms

• (common people of a nation) common people, hoi polloi, masses, people, rabble, riff-raff
• (inhabitants of a nation) inhabitants, population