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What does Hoi polloi mean?

Answer:

Hoi polloi (Greek: οἱ πολλοί, meaning "the many") is a disparaging term for "the people" or "the masses". For example: "William felt disinclined to venture into town on a Saturday because he was reluctant to mix with the hoi polloi".

The current English usage is said to originate in the 19th century. The term remains in active use today (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoi_polloi).

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First answer by Chines. Last edit by Chines. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 4 [recommend question].

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