Definition of 'hoi polloi'
plural noun
If someone refers to the hoi polloi, they are referring in a humorous or rather rude way to ordinary people, in contrast to rich, well-educated, or upper-class people.
Synonyms: the common people, the masses, the (common) herd, the underclass More Synonyms of hoi polloi
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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Word Frequency
hoi polloi in British English
plural noun
often derogatory
ordinary people collectively
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Greek, literally: the many
Word Frequency
hoi polloi in American English
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
Gr, lit., the many
Word Frequency
hoi polloi in American English
(ˈhɔi pəˈlɔi)
plural noun
(often preceded by the)
the common people; the masses
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1815–25; ‹ Gk: the many]Examples of 'hoi polloi' in a sentence
hoi polloi
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Definition of hoi polloi from the Collins English Dictionary
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