populace

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈpɑpjələs/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The people living in a particular country or area; the general public or population.; The common people as distinguished from the upper classes; the masses.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

the general populacethe local populacethe rural populacethe urban populacethe educated populace

Derivatives

populouspopulationpopularpopulatepopularitypopularize

Synonyms

publicpopulationpeoplemassescommon peoplepopulace

Antonyms

elitearistocracy

Commonly confused

population
EN: 'Population' is a neutral, statistical term for all inhabitants; 'populace' often carries a connotation of the common or ordinary people as distinct from the elite.
populous
EN: 'Populous' is an adjective meaning densely populated (e.g., 'a populous city'); 'populace' is a noun referring to the people themselves.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse the noun 'populace' (ending in -ace) with the adjective 'populous' (ending in -ous). They share a root but differ in form and function.

💬 Examples

  1. The new policy was welcomed by the vast majority of the populace.

  2. The aristocracy looked down upon the populace with contempt.