en masse

[ ahn mas, en; French ahn mas ]

adverb

1. in a mass; all together; as a group:

   The people rushed to the gate en masse.

en masse

/ ɑ̃ mas /

adverb

1. in a group, body, or mass; as a whole; all together

en masse

1. A French phrase meaning “in a large body”: “The protesters left en masse for the White House .”

Word History and Origins

Origin of en masse¹

Borrowed into English from French around 1795–1805

Word History and Origins

Origin of en masse¹

C19: from French

Idioms and Phrases

In one group or body; all together. For example, The activists marched en masse to the capitol . This French term, with exactly the same meaning, was adopted into English about 1800.

Example Sentences

They pulled up in unmarked cars and on motorcycles, appearing en masse out of the darkness.

From The Daily Beast

The Internet cool kids are, of course, rallying against Swift en masse.

From The Daily Beast

But if word of the mission reached the city, there was a risk that the hostages would be executed en masse.

From The Daily Beast

For women who are attacked en masse, this new reporting system will save substantial time and energy.

From The Daily Beast

Editors were apoplectic, and they showed it by quitting en masse, leaving Mays to pick up the pieces.

From The Daily Beast

The company, expecting a scene, rose en masse to their feet, while those in the inner room crowded to the front.

From Project Gutenberg

On more than one occasion they have taken up some cause en masse, and have gathered in thousands, determined to have their way.

From Project Gutenberg

The experience of human affairs when looked at en masse, must be in accordance with it if true, or repugnant to it if false.

From Project Gutenberg

The result of such desultory visits would be exactly what has been noticed, but erroneously attributed to immigration en masse.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he speaks of the inhabitants as being, 'taken en masse, steeped to the eyelids in immorality.'

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• altogether