personnel
Pluralpersonnels
Often confused with personal
- 1The people who work for a company, group, or military unit.
Like all the players who make up a sports team.
The store hired extra personnel to handle the holiday rush.
All personnel must wear safety helmets on the work site.
UsageUse a plural verb: personnel are. Do not mix it up with personal.
- 2The part of a company that hires workers and deals with their pay and problems.
Like the office that takes care of everyone who works there.
She went to personnel to ask about her vacation days.
Personnel handles all the paperwork for new workers.
UsageOften no the: go to personnel.
SimilarHR
Note
- 3One person who belongs to a group such as an army or company.
Like one soldier counted among all the troops on a base.
Each personnel must wear an ID card inside the factory.
A security personnel checked our bags at the gate.
UsageIn careful writing, say a worker or a soldier instead.
Similarmember
Note
Practice
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Origin
Borrowed directly from French personnel. It is a doublet of personal.
Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Personnel was borrowed directly from French personnel. en.wiktionary.org
- Personnel is a doublet of personal. en.wiktionary.org