masses
/ˈmæs.ɪz/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
People, especially a large number of people; the general population.
Noun
Examples
The masses were mobilized not only to perform typical activities that are part of agricultural production, but also unusual ones such as killing sparrows and rats that were reportedly competing with humans for food. For instance, in 1958, the people of Tunliu County in Shanxi Province were determine
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The total population.
Noun
Examples
The masses will be voting this Tuesday.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “masses” mean?
People, especially a large number of people; the general population.
Is “masses” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.