townspeople

plural noun

towns·​peo·​ple ˈtau̇nz-ˌpē-pəl How to pronounce townspeople (audio)
Synonyms of townspeoplenext
1
: the inhabitants of a town or city : townsmen
2
: town-dwelling or town-bred persons

Examples of townspeople in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After a 1951 avalanche that killed seven people, the townspeople banded together to ensure that Livigno wouldn’t be cut off anymore in the winter. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026 But the townspeople are abuzz about one of their own. Chad Graff, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Nothing of consequence ever really happens there, a fact the townspeople take as a point of pride. Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026 Jon Haz said that recording the songs live as they were performed helped solve some of the logistic issues of the first album, and added an experience for the townspeople by including them in the recording. Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for townspeople

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of townspeople was in 1587

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Cite this Entry

“Townspeople.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/townspeople. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

townspeople

plural noun
towns·​peo·​ple ˈtau̇nz-ˌpē-pəl How to pronounce townspeople (audio)
: the people who live in a town or city

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