You’re at a fancy cocktail party. Someone gestures toward the street and scoffs at "the hoi polloi" while sipping a twenty-dollar glass of Pinot Noir. They think they’re being sophisticated. They think they’re referring to the elite, the upper crust, the people who actually know which fork to use for salad.
They’re wrong.
Actually, they’re 180 degrees wrong. It’s one of those linguistic traps that catches even the smartest people. When you look at the definition of hoi polloi, you aren’t looking at a synonym for "high society." You’re looking at the exact opposite.
Where the Definition of Hoi Polloi Actually Comes From
Language is a funny thing, honestly. We borrow words from dead civilizations and then get mad when people don't use them "correctly." The term hoi polloi comes straight out of Greek. Specifically, it’s Ancient Greek. In that language, hoi is a definite article (meaning "the") and polloi is the plural of polys (meaning "many").
Put it together. What do you get? "The many."
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Basically, it refers to the masses. The common people. The crowd. The rabble.
If you go back to the 1600s, you’ll see it pop up in English literature as a way for the educated elite to distance themselves from everyone else. John Dryden, a massive figure in 17th-century English poetry and criticism, was one of the first to drop it into a text. He wasn't being nice about it. Back then, it was a way to say, "those people over there who didn't go to Oxford."
It’s ironic. People today use it to sound fancy, but the word itself was originally used by fancy people to describe the "un-fancy."
The "The" Problem
Here is a fun bit of pedantry for your next trivia night. Since hoi already means "the," saying "the hoi polloi" is technically saying "the the many."
It’s like saying "ATM machine" or "PIN number."
Grammarians have been fighting over this for a century. Some experts, like the folks at the Merriam-Webster dictionary, acknowledge that while it’s redundant, "the hoi polloi" is the standard usage in English. If you just say "hoi polloi" without the "the," you might actually sound weirder to a modern ear.
Why Do We Get It So Wrong?
It’s all about the sound. "Hoi polloi" sounds expensive. It sounds like hoity-toity.
Language researchers have noted that because it starts with that "h" sound and feels phonetically similar to words like haughty or hubris, our brains naturally categorize it with the rich and powerful. This is called "folk etymology" or just plain old linguistic drift.
Think about the word peruse. Most people think it means to skim something quickly. Actually, it means to read something with extreme care and detail. Hoi polloi suffered the same fate. It got dressed up in a tuxedo it was never meant to wear.
I’ve seen this happen in movies, too. There’s a famous scene in The Third Man (1949) where a character uses it to refer to the elite. Even back then, the confusion was real. If Hollywood gets it wrong, you can bet the rest of us will follow suit.
The Class Divide and the "Common" Label
When we talk about the definition of hoi polloi, we have to talk about class.
In the 19th century, if you used this phrase, you were making a statement about your education. You knew Greek. You were part of the "Brahmin" class of intellectuals. By calling the working class the hoi polloi, you weren't just describing a group of people; you were asserting your dominance over them.
It’s derogatory. Or at least, it started that way.
- It’s been used to describe the "great unwashed."
- It’s appeared in political speeches to dismiss the opinions of the majority.
- It’s a favorite of snobs who want to sound academic while being mean.
But here’s the kicker: The meaning is shifting. Because so many people use it to mean "the elite," some dictionaries are starting to list that as a secondary, though "incorrect," usage. That’s how English works. If enough people are wrong for a long enough time, they eventually become right.
Using It in a Sentence (The Right Way)
If you want to use the definition of hoi polloi without looking like a fool, you have to keep it grounded.
Example: "The celebrity tried to hide her face with a large hat, hoping to blend in with the hoi polloi at the grocery store."
In this case, you’re using it correctly. You’re contrasting the "famous person" with the "common people."
Contrast that with a wrong usage: "The CEO spent his weekend at a gala with the rest of the hoi polloi."
Unless the CEO is hanging out with the janitorial staff and the valet drivers at that gala, the sentence is nonsense.
The Difference Between Hoi Polloi and "The Masses"
Are they the same? Sorta.
"The masses" is a bit more neutral, often used in a sociological or political context (think Karl Marx). "Hoi polloi" almost always carries a whiff of condescension. It’s a "look down your nose" kind of phrase.
If you’re writing a serious essay about labor rights, you probably wouldn't use hoi polloi because it sounds like you’re mocking the workers. You’d use "the proletariat" or "the general public."
Hoi polloi belongs in satire. It belongs in the mouths of villains in a Dickens novel.
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Expert Tips for Using High-Level Vocabulary
If you’re trying to level up your writing or speaking, don't just grab a thesaurus. You have to understand the vibe of the word.
- Check the Etymology. If you know hoi polloi is Greek for "the many," you’ll never forget it means the commoners.
- Consider the Audience. If you use hoi polloi correctly, half the people listening might think you’re using it wrong because they believe the "elite" definition. Sometimes, it’s better to just say "the public."
- Avoid Redundancy. If you want to be a real pro, try using it without the "the." It’s bold. It’s technically more accurate. It’ll make people wonder if you know something they don’t.
The "Hoity-Toity" Confusion
We mentioned this briefly, but it deserves a deeper look. Hoity-toity actually means "haughty" or "snobbish." It comes from an old English word hoit, which meant to play the fool or act riotously.
Because hoi polloi and hoity-toity sound so similar, they’ve performed a weird mental dance in the collective consciousness.
- Hoity-toity = Snobbish person.
- Hoi polloi = The people the snobbish person looks down on.
The irony is thick.
Why Does This Matter in 2026?
You might think, "Who cares? It’s just an old Greek phrase."
It matters because clear communication is the bedrock of authority. If you’re a business leader, a writer, or a student, using words incorrectly undermines your E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). If you get the small things wrong, like the definition of hoi polloi, your audience starts to wonder what else you’ve missed.
Also, we live in an era of "quiet luxury" and "old money" aesthetics. People are obsessed with sounding and looking "refined." But true refinement isn't about using big words; it's about using the right words.
Real-World Examples of Misuse
Even major publications have slipped up. I won't name names, but I’ve seen travel magazines talk about "the hoi polloi of the fashion world."
Unless the "fashion world" is suddenly full of people who shop exclusively at thrift stores and don't know who Anna Wintour is, that's a massive fail.
On the flip side, look at James Joyce. In Ulysses, he used the term with a full understanding of its weight. He used it to navigate the complex social layers of Dublin. That’s the level of precision we should aim for.
Actionable Steps for Your Vocabulary
If you’ve realized you’ve been using this term wrong for the last decade, don't sweat it. You're in good company.
First, do a mental audit. Think of other words you might be "mis-categorizing" based on how they sound. Enervate is a good one—it sounds like "energize," but it actually means to drain someone of energy.
Second, if you’re writing something intended for a broad audience, maybe skip hoi polloi altogether. It’s a bit "look at me, I know Greek." If you want to describe the common people, "the public," "the populace," or "everyday folks" works better and carries less baggage.
Third, if you do use it, use it with intention. Use it to highlight a contrast between the powerful and the powerless. That’s where the word has its teeth.
Final Insights on the Masses
The definition of hoi polloi isn't just a dictionary entry. It’s a window into how we perceive social class and how we use language as a gatekeeper.
Don't be the person at the party who uses it to mean the elite. You’ll look like you’re trying too hard. Instead, keep it in your back pocket for when you need to describe the vast, swirling, beautiful, and sometimes messy majority of humanity.
The many. The crowd. The hoi polloi.
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- Double-check your Greek: Remember hoi = the, polloi = many.
- Listen for it in the wild: Notice when people use it as a synonym for "elite" and realize they’re actually insulting themselves.
- Trust the classics: Stick to the original meaning to maintain your credibility in formal writing.
Understanding these nuances makes you a more effective communicator. It’s not just about being a "grammar nerd." It’s about making sure your words actually mean what you think they mean.
Now that you've got a handle on this linguistic quirk, take a look at your recent emails or articles. See if any other "fancy" words have snuck in that might be working against you. Accuracy is the ultimate sophistication.