hoi polloi

[ hoi puh-loi ]

plural noun

1. Often the hoi polloi. the common people; the masses.

hoi polloi

/ ˌhɔɪ pəˈlɔɪ /

plural noun

1. derogatory.
   the masses; common people

hoi polloi

1. The masses, the ordinary folk; the phrase is often used in a derogatory way to refer to a popular preference or incorrect opinion: “The hoi polloi may think that Fitzgerald is a great director, but those who know about film realize that his work is commercial and derivative.” From Greek, meaning “the many.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoi polloi¹

First recorded in 1835–40; written in Greek letters in 1668 ; from Greek hoi polloí “the many”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoi polloi¹

Greek, literally: the many

Example Sentences

One section of the bookcases separating Founders patrons from the hotel’s hoi polloi holds pricey bottles of liquor, also individually lit, held under lock and key.

From Seattle Times

Here, Frasier indulges in an uncharacteristic beer: “Sitting here with a cold brew in my hand, I feel amalgamated with the hoi polloi,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Hanania reveals that these folks may have fatter wallets, nicer clothes, and bigger vocabularies than the hoi polloi at a Trump rally, but at the end of the day, they share the same vile bigotries.

From Salon

The store announced its opening with good news for the hot dog hoi polloi: 50 cent hot dogs, compared with Papaya King’s 75.

From New York Times

This week we got our first dose of this quadrennial ritual when both Donald Trump and his closest rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis showed up to give speeches and mingle with the hoi polloi.

From Salon