noun
personnel
per-suh-NEL/ˌpɜːrsəˈnel/
The people employed by an organization.
All hospital personnel wear identification badges while they are on duty.
Etymology
French personnel turned an adjective meaning “personal” into a collective noun for people in service. Its original military use distinguished the people from matériel, the equipment.
In context
two foundation guard personnel are to be stationed on site for the purposes of deterring trespassing
More examples
- Only authorized personnel may enter the laboratory.
- The company hires extra personnel for the holiday season.
- Please contact personnel about your health insurance.
Forms
personnel
Similar words
- employees
- Refers to individual paid workers rather than an administrative department.
- staff
- Often emphasizes the team working in a particular workplace.
- workforce
- Emphasizes all workers in an organization, industry, or region.