personnel

[ pur-suh-nel ]

noun

1. a body of persons employed in an organization or place of work.
2. (used with a plural verb) persons:

   All personnel are being given the day off.

3. personnel department.

personnel

/ ˌpɜːsəˈnɛl /

noun

1. the people employed in an organization or for a service or undertaking Compare materiel
2. 1. Also calledhuman resources the office or department that interviews, appoints, or keeps records of employees
   2. ( as modifier )

      a personnel officer

Usage Note

Some usage guides object to the use of personnel as a plural. However, this use is well established and standard in all varieties of speech and writing. The use of personnel with a preceding number is largely restricted to business and government communications: Six personnel were transferred.

Word History and Origins

Origin of personnel¹

1825–35; < French, noun use of personnel (adj.) personal < Late Latin persōnāle, neuter of persōnālis; replacing personal (noun), Anglicized form of French personnel; compare German Personal, variant of Personale, Italian personale. See matériel

Word History and Origins

Origin of personnel¹

C19: from French, ultimately from Late Latin persōnālis personal (adj); see person

Example Sentences

The savings will be retained in defence and all personnel will be redeployed or retrained, Healy said.

From BBC

The humanitarian group denounced the violence in a strongly worded statement last week, saying their personnel had been tear-gassed and held against their will for several hours.

From BBC

Military and police personnel had stormed Ghana's government buildings, seizing power from Nkrumah, who was away on a foreign trip.

From BBC

The agency’s funding and personnel could also face cuts.

From Science Magazine

For example, experts are doubtful that ICE's 20,000 agents and support personnel would be enough to find and track down millions of undocumented migrants.

From BBC

Related Words

• cadre
• crew
• group
• organization
• people
• staff
• troop
• work force