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

The nonprofit is testing out a method where a UV light is set up to attract bugs to bats near the hibernacula, the cool-sounding plural for bat refuges.

From Los Angeles Times

The Story was, most of all, war — wars, plural.

From Los Angeles Times

Like being at the movies, the “Pluriverse assembly” gathers up worlds that are human, natural and spiritual — the universe made plural.

From Los Angeles Times

Our order was missing its habanero duck sauce, and service here is not without foibles, such as the plural misdelivered dishes at another dinner.

From Seattle Times

It also doesn’t necessarily mean African-Americans are opposed to a plural democracy – that relationship is more heavily concentrated among Whites.

From Salon

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.