street people

[ street pee-puhl ]

plural noun

1. people whose home is on the streets of a city; people who are unhoused or experiencing homelessness.
2. people who make their living on the streets, especially of large cities, as vendors or performers.
3. the people of a neighborhood, especially a poor and crowded big-city neighborhood, who frequent the streets of their area.

Word History and Origins

Origin of street people¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

On Florida Street, people are busy at work trying to fix broken doors and clear out the mud.

From BBC

“It’s the reason why when I walk down the street, people talk to me in English. People don’t believe I live in the Caribbean.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said there is more trash along the street, people using the street as a bathroom and graffiti on the sidewalk.

From Los Angeles Times

There are crooked politicians, crooked cops, crooked garbagemen, dodgy street people, human traffickers and drug dealers.

From Los Angeles Times

“All my friends’ parents were doctors and lawyers and Wall Street people,” Martin said.

From Seattle Times