human resources: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business/Administrative
Quick answer
What does “human resources” mean?
the people who work for an organization, considered as an asset to be managed and developed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the people who work for an organization, considered as an asset to be managed and developed.
the department within an organization responsible for personnel functions such as hiring, training, benefits, and employee relations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The term is standard in both varieties. 'Personnel' was historically more common in the UK but 'human resources' (HR) is now universally dominant in corporate contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and strategic than 'personnel', implying a focus on employee development as a key organizational resource.
Frequency
Very high frequency in corporate, academic (business studies), and governmental contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “human resources” in a Sentence
The [ORGANIZATION]'s human resources are [ADJECTIVE].Human resources is/are responsible for [NOUN PHRASE].A matter for human resources.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “human resources” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm is looking to human resource its new division efficiently.
- They outsourced the human resourcing function.
American English
- The company needs to strategically human resource its growth.
- Human resourcing is a key executive skill.
adverb
British English
- The role was viewed human-resource-wise as a challenge.
- The company is managed human-resource-efficiently.
American English
- The project was evaluated from an HR/human resources perspective.
- They reorganized human-resources-smartly.
adjective
British English
- She has a human-resources background.
- The human-resources implications were significant.
American English
- He attended an HR (human resources) conference.
- We're reviewing our human resources strategy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The primary context. Refers to the department and its strategic management of employees.
Academic
Used in fields like Business Administration, Organisational Psychology, and Economics.
Everyday
Common when discussing jobs, company structure, or workplace issues ('I need to speak to HR').
Technical
Specific usage in software (HRIS - Human Resources Information Systems) and legal compliance contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “human resources”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “human resources”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “human resources”
- Using a singular verb for the 'people' sense (e.g., 'Human resources is our best asset' - acceptable for department, but for people should be 'are').
- Confusing 'human resources' (people/function) with 'human resource' (singular, rarely used, e.g., 'a valuable human resource').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. When referring to the department as a single entity ('HR is on the second floor'), use singular. When referring to the people ('Our human resources are highly skilled'), use plural. The singular for the department is more common.
'Personnel' is an older term focusing more on administrative tasks (payroll, records). 'Human Resources' (HR) is a modern, strategic term implying that employees are a key asset to be developed, not just managed. 'HR' has largely superseded 'Personnel'.
Some critics argue it is dehumanising, reducing people to mere economic 'resources' like coal or timber. This has led to alternative terms like 'People & Culture' or 'Talent Acquisition'.
The standard abbreviation is 'HR' (e.g., HR Manager, HR policies). It is used ubiquitously in both written and spoken English.
the people who work for an organization, considered as an asset to be managed and developed.
Human resources is usually formal, business/administrative in register.
Human resources: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhjuːmən rɪˈzɔːsɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhjuːmən ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Our greatest asset is our human resources.”
- “To be an HR nightmare.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a company's RESOURCES: Financial, Physical, and HUMAN. The humans need managing, hence Human Resources.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE A RESOURCE / AN ASSET (to be allocated, developed, and optimised).
Practice
Quiz
In modern corporate language, 'Human Resources' (HR) primarily refers to: