Staff: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to a group of people working together in a professional setting, particularly in a specific department or organization.

• The school staff are organizing a charity event
• The medical staff at the hospital are very attentive

Used when referring to individuals who are hired and paid by an organization. It emphasizes their status as paid workers.

• The company has over 500 employees
• All employees are required to attend the annual training session

Refers to the overall group of people who are available for work or are currently employed, generally used in a broader economic or organizational context.

• The company is looking to increase its workforce next year
• The local workforce has gained new skills through training programs

Often used in official, formal, or military contexts to refer to the people employed by an organization.

• The personnel department is handling the recruitment process
• Military personnel must follow strict protocols

Used to refer to all employees of any organization, not just limited to a hospital or medical setting.

• The staff at the hotel were very helpful.
• Our office staff is working overtime to meet the deadline.

Used to describe professionals directly involved in the medical care and treatment of patients. This includes doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers.

• Medical personnel must wear protective equipment at all times.
• In emergency situations, medical personnel are the first responders.

Typically used to refer to a group of medical professionals working together on a specific case or in a particular department.

• The medical team performed a successful heart surgery.
• Each patient is assigned a dedicated medical team.

Refers specifically to all individuals employed by a hospital, covering a wide range of roles including doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and maintenance workers.

• Hospital workers are facing increased stress due to the pandemic.
• The hospital workers went on strike demanding better wages.

Can also be used to describe providing an organization or department with the necessary people to function.

• We need to staff the new branch office properly.
• They staffed the help desk with experienced customer service representatives.

Commonly used when someone is given a job or work in exchange for payment.

• The company employs over 500 people worldwide.
• She was employed as a teacher at the elementary school.

Used when someone is given a job, typically with a hired-on-the-spot or specific point-in-time connotation.

• They decided to hire a new manager for the project.
• We need to hire more staff to handle the holiday rush.

Often used in the context of finding and attracting new employees, sometimes for specific positions or roles.

• The company is currently recruiting recent graduates.
• We recruited several volunteers to help with the event.