masses: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal when referring to the populace; informal when meaning 'a lot of'.
Quick answer
What does “masses” mean?
A large, indeterminate number of people considered as a collective whole, often in contrast to an elite or ruling class.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, indeterminate number of people considered as a collective whole, often in contrast to an elite or ruling class.
1. The bulk of a population; the common people. 2. A large quantity or amount of something (e.g., 'masses of work'). 3. In physics, the plural of 'mass' referring to quantities of matter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British informal speech, 'masses of' is common to mean 'a lot of'. This usage is less frequent in American English, where 'tons of' or 'a lot of' is preferred.
Connotations
In socio-political contexts, both varieties use it similarly. In British informal contexts, it lacks the political weight.
Frequency
Higher frequency in British informal registers. Similar frequency in formal/political contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “masses” in a Sentence
the masses + VERB (plural)VERB + the masses (e.g., reach, mobilize, educate)ADJ + masses (e.g., broad, silent, great)masses of + NOUN (plural/uncountable)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masses” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The protesters massed outside Parliament.
- Crowds are massing in the square.
American English
- Troops massed at the border.
- Dark clouds massed on the horizon.
adjective
British English
- Mass unemployment caused social unrest.
- It was a mass evacuation.
American English
- The event had mass appeal.
- We need a mass vaccination strategy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing: 'a product for the masses'.
Academic
Common in sociology, political science, history, and media studies to discuss populations, movements, or cultural dissemination.
Everyday
Informal UK: 'I've got masses of laundry to do.' Formal: discussing public opinion or events.
Technical
In physics/engineering as the plural of 'mass' (e.g., 'the masses of the two objects').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masses”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “masses”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masses”
- Using a singular verb: 'The masses is unhappy.' (Correct: 'The masses are unhappy.')
- Using 'mass' as a countable plural incorrectly: 'Two masses of people gathered.' (Unnatural; use 'two large crowds'.)
- Overusing the informal 'masses of' in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. Referring to 'the masses' (the people) is neutral/formal. Using 'masses of' to mean 'a lot of' is informal, especially British.
No. 'Masses' meaning 'the people' is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb (e.g., 'The masses are demanding change').
'Mass' (sing.) is an uncountable noun for a large body or quantity. 'Masses' (pl.) refers either to multiple large bodies (physics) or specifically to the collective populace.
Not inherently. It can be neutral (sociological), positive (democratic), or negative (implying a mob), depending on context and speaker bias.
A large, indeterminate number of people considered as a collective whole, often in contrast to an elite or ruling class.
Masses: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæsɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæsɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The masses have spoken.”
- “A creature/star of the masses.”
- “Bread and circuses for the masses.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a massive stadium full of people – that's the MASSES. The word is MASSive + ES (for many).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE POPULACE IS A PHYSICAL BODY (the body politic), A SEA (a sea of faces), OR AN UNREFINED MATERIAL (raw mass).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'masses' used in its informal, quantifying sense?