plural

[ ploor-uhl ]

adjective

1. consisting of, containing, or pertaining to more than one.
2. pertaining to or involving a plurality of persons or things.
3. being one of such a plurality.
4. Grammar. noting or pertaining to a member of the category of number, found in many languages, indicating that a word has more than one referent, as in English men, or more than two referents, as in Old English ge, meaning “you.”

noun

, Grammar.

1. the plural number.
2. a form in the plural.

plural

/ ˈplʊərəl /

adjective

1. containing, involving, or composed of more than one person, thing, item, etc

   a plural society

2. denoting a word indicating that more than one referent is being referred to or described

noun

1. grammar
   1. the plural number
   2. a plural form

plural

1. The grammatical category in nouns , pronouns , and verbs that refers to more than one thing. Most nouns become plural with the addition of -s or -es : hats , chairs , dishes , countries , and so on. Some nouns form the plural in other ways, as in children , feet , geese , and women . ( Compare singular ; see agreement .)

Derived Forms

• ˈplurally, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plural¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin plūrālis, equivalent to plūr-, stem of plūs plus + -alis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of plural¹

C14: from Old French plurel, from Late Latin plūrālis concerning many, from Latin plūs more

Example Sentences

Well, it’s great because you captured one of the things I was thinking, that data is not the plural of anecdote, per se.

From Nautilus

Overall, I wish Isaacson had created more of a mosaic, one similar to his history of the early computer industry — “The Innovators,” properly plural.

From Washington Post

While the story of “Sea” was told by a poetic plural narrator and meandered through a hazy dystopian landscape, “My Year Abroad” is set in the present day and punctuated by the colorful and vibrant language of a college kid.

From Washington Post

If you think all of that is interesting, get a lot of this - in the Appalachian and Western Pennsylvania region of the United States, they came up with the word "yinz" in order to address the plural you.

From Everything After Z

Let's break down all of the ways you can address the plural you.

From Everything After Z

And the plural could be knaidels, or knaidelach, or knaidlach, or knaideluch.

From The Daily Beast

As GO is a word referring to the game, so its plural gos is.

From The Daily Beast

Actually, the issue of plural vs. singular is orthogonal to the dilemma she wants to pose.

From The Daily Beast

Illuminati is the plural of illuminatus, which means “enlightened.”

From The Daily Beast

But as a great mentor once told me, the plural of anecdote is not data.

From The Daily Beast

The Provençal has not even the formal distinction of the nouns in al, which in French make their plural in aux.

From Project Gutenberg

For word Percy printed words, quite forgetting that the M.E. plural is dissyllabic (word-es).

From Project Gutenberg

In the same letter he admits that he had close relations with Spain, and throughout uses the first person plural.

From Project Gutenberg

The use of the plural possessive thrilled the heart of the workers; the club was a family possession.

From Project Gutenberg

Like numerous other nouns, it has its diminutive in os, its plural in wug, and its local form in ing.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Plural

What does plural mean?

In grammar, a plural is a noun that refers to more than one. For example, the noun cats is the plural of the noun cat and means more than one cat.

Plural also describes something that consists of, contains, or relates to more than one of something, as in A plural society is made up of more than one cultural group in which everyone practices their own culture.

Example: The plural form of ox is oxen.

Where does plural come from?

The first records of the term plural come from around 1350. It ultimately comes from the Latin plūrālis. It combines the Latin stem plūr-, meaning “plus,” and the suffix -alis, meaning “of the kind of” or “relating to.” However it’s used, plural has this sense of “more than one.”

In English, many nouns are made plural by adding -s (dogs) or -es (boxes) to the end of the word. The plural of some nouns is different from the singular noun, such as mice for more than one mouse and children for more than one child. We call these nouns irregular because they don’t follow the rule.

Pronouns can also be plural. When a pronoun refers to more than one person or thing, that’s a plural pronoun. You can read more about plural pronouns in the article, “What Is A Pronoun?”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to plural?

• plurally (adverb)
• pluralize (verb)

What are some synonyms for plural?

• dual
• many
• multiple
• numerous

What are some words that share a root or word element with plural? 

• pluralism
• plurality
• pluralistic

What are some words that often get used in discussing plural?

• noun
• multiple
• grammar

How is plural used in real life?

Plural is a commonly used grammar term. Its other senses are less likely to be used in everyday conversation.

WHAT IS THE PLURAL OF BIGFOOT

— Luke Hemmings (@Luke5SOS) March 19, 2014

I'm not okay with the fact that the word singular can be plural and plural can be singular. Singulars, more like SIN•gulars #amirite

— Cole M. Sprouse (@colesprouse) January 20, 2016

"Pair" as a noun refers to a set of things, and we usually add "s" to for plural sets. There is nothing wrong with saying “two pair of jeans,” and that used to be the more common construction. Just not anymore.

— Editor Mark (@EditorMark) October 5, 2021

 

 

Try using plural!

True or False? 

Plural nouns are always formed by adding -s or -es.