Person: meaning, definitions and examples

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person

[ ˈpɜːrs(ə)n ]

Noun / Verb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

human being

A human being regarded as an individual. People considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities. An individual's body, mind, and spirit. A character in a play, novel, or movie.

Synonyms

character, human being, individual, individuality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
person	This is a general term for any human and is used in everyday conversation. She is a very kind person. That person over there dropped their wallet.
individual	Used to highlight a single person in contrast to a group. Often used in formal or technical contexts. Each individual in the survey had a unique opinion. The rights of the individual must be protected.
human being	A more formal term used to emphasize that someone belongs to the species Homo sapiens. It can be used in scientific or philosophical discussions. Every human being deserves respect. A human being has complex thoughts and emotions.
individuality	Refers to the qualities and characteristics that make one person different from others. Her individuality shines through in her unique style. Expressing one's individuality is important.
character	Often used to describe someone's personality, moral qualities, or behavior. It can also refer to a role in a story or play. He has a strong character. The main character in the book is very brave.

Examples of usage

She is a very kind person.
The rights of the individual person are important.
He is a person of integrity and honesty.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

grammatical

A category used in the classification of pronouns, possessive determiners, and verb forms according to whether they indicate the speaker, the audience, or a third party.

Synonyms

grammatical category, point of view.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
person	Use 'person' when referring to an individual human being. It's a general word suitable for most everyday contexts. She is a kind person. Is there any person who can help me with this?
grammatical category	Use 'grammatical category' in linguistic or academic contexts when talking about the classification of words or syntax. It helps in analyzing grammar and sentence structure. Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are different grammatical categories. Understanding grammatical categories can improve your writing skills.
point of view	Use 'point of view' when talking about how someone sees things, especially in storytelling or arguments. It focuses on personal opinions or positions. The story is told from the main character's point of view. Everyone has a different point of view on this issue.

Word

Description / Examples

person

Use 'person' when referring to an individual human being. It's a general word suitable for most everyday contexts.

She is a kind person.
Is there any person who can help me with this?

grammatical category

Use 'grammatical category' in linguistic or academic contexts when talking about the classification of words or syntax. It helps in analyzing grammar and sentence structure.

Nouns, verbs, and adjectives are different grammatical categories.
Understanding grammatical categories can improve your writing skills.

point of view

Use 'point of view' when talking about how someone sees things, especially in storytelling or arguments. It focuses on personal opinions or positions.

The story is told from the main character's point of view.
Everyone has a different point of view on this issue.

Examples of usage

In 'I told you', 'I' is in the first person.
The verb 'go' is in the third person singular form.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

internet

To be present in or responsible for an online community or other online presence.

Synonyms

engage, interact, participate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
person	Used to refer to an individual human being. It is neutral and very general. I saw a person standing by the bus stop She is a kind person
participate	Used when someone takes part in an activity or event. She likes to participate in sports Many people will participate in the charity run
engage	Used when someone becomes involved or interested in something, often in a deeper, more committed way. He tries to engage the audience with his storytelling The teacher encourages students to engage in class discussions
interact	Used when describing the action of two or more people communicating or working together. They interact well with each other on the project It's important for children to interact with their peers

Examples of usage

She will be personning the chat support today.
The company is currently personning their social media accounts.

Translations

Translations of the word "person" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pessoa

🇮🇳 व्यक्ति

इंसान
आदमी

🇩🇪 Person

Mensch
Individuum

🇮🇩 orang

🇺🇦 особа

людина
індивід

🇵🇱 osoba

człowiek
indywiduum

🇯🇵 人

人間
個人

🇫🇷 personne

🇪🇸 persona

🇹🇷 kişi

insan
birey

🇰🇷 사람

🇸🇦 شخص

إنسان
فرد

🇨🇿 osoba

člověk
jedinec

🇸🇰 osoba

človek
jedinec

🇨🇳 人

🇸🇮 oseba

človek
posameznik

🇮🇸 manneskja

🇰🇿 адам

🇬🇪 პირი

ადამიანი
ინდივიდი

🇦🇿 şəxs

insan
fərd

🇲🇽 persona

Etymology

The word 'person' originated from the Latin word 'persona', which originally referred to a mask used by actors in ancient Roman theatre. Over time, the meaning evolved to represent an individual human being. The concept of personhood has been central to philosophical and legal discussions, defining rights, responsibilities, and identity. The word has been used in various contexts, from grammar to social sciences, reflecting its importance in human communication and interaction.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #180, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

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177 far
178 line
179 cases
180 person
181 area
182 left
183 control
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