businesspeople
C1Formal, neutral. Common in business, news, and academic writing.
Definition
Meaning
People engaged in business, commerce, or trade, typically in managerial, entrepreneurial, or professional capacities.
Can refer broadly to any group of individuals working in the commercial sector, from executives and managers to entrepreneurs and investors. It often carries connotations of professionalism, commercial acumen, and a focus on profit and organizational management.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a plural-only compound noun (business+people), functioning as a gender-neutral alternative to 'businessmen' (which can imply a male-only group). It refers to a collective group, not an individual (for an individual, use 'businessperson').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Possibly slightly more formal than 'businessmen' in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral-to-positive connotations of professionalism and commercial activity. Can sometimes carry a slight negative connotation of being focused solely on profit, depending on context.
Frequency
Common in both varieties. The gender-neutral term is increasingly standard in formal and corporate communications in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
businesspeople + from + [country/region]businesspeople + in + [sector/industry]businesspeople + who + [clause]businesspeople + and + [other group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A room full of suits”
- “Movers and shakers”
- “The corporate world”
- “The captain of industry (singular equivalent)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The conference attracted businesspeople from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Academic
The study examined the risk-aversion profiles of early-career businesspeople.
Everyday
The new airport will make travel much easier for local businesspeople.
Technical
N/A (not a technical term in a specialised field)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The attendees, all businesspeople, began to network over canapés.
- These businesspeople often travel to our overseas factories for inspections.
American English
- The businesspeople voted to approve the new merger deal.
- She regularly advises businesspeople on tax optimization strategies.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The businesspeople attendees were given special lanyards.
- A businesspeople association was formed to lobby the council.
American English
- The businesspeople survey revealed shifting priorities.
- He wore a standard businesspeople outfit of a navy suit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many businesspeople work in offices.
- Businesspeople use computers.
- The hotel has a special lounge for businesspeople.
- Successful businesspeople often work long hours.
- Local businesspeople expressed concern about the new parking charges.
- The policy aims to create a favourable environment for both entrepreneurs and established businesspeople.
- A consortium of international businesspeople has secured funding for the infrastructure project.
- The ethical dilemmas facing modern businesspeople are increasingly complex, requiring more than just financial acumen.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as a compound: BUSINESS + PEOPLE. It literally means 'people of business'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS A JOURNEY (businesspeople are travellers/navigators), BUSINESS IS WAR (businesspeople are generals/strategists).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'бизнесмены' if the intent is explicitly gender-neutral. 'Деловые люди' is a closer conceptual match. Avoid direct calques like 'бизнеслюди'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'businesspeople' as a singular noun (e.g., 'He is a businesspeople'). Incorrect: 'business people' (should be one word or hyphenated as 'business-people', though single word is most common).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the CORRECT use of 'businesspeople'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is strictly plural. The singular form is 'businessperson' or, less commonly now, 'businessman'/'businesswoman'.
'Businesspeople' is a broad term for anyone in business, often in established roles. 'Entrepreneurs' specifically start new businesses and take on financial risks. All entrepreneurs are businesspeople, but not all businesspeople are entrepreneurs.
It is standard to write it as one word: 'businesspeople'. The hyphenated form 'business-people' is less common but acceptable. The two-word form 'business people' is generally considered incorrect in formal writing.
It is neutral-to-formal. It is perfectly appropriate in professional and academic contexts. In very casual speech, people might say 'people in business' or just 'businessmen' (though the latter is not gender-inclusive).