person Definition

person
noun persons, people (plural in sense 1 also)

1. An individual human being.

Thesaurus: individual, human being, somebody, personality, mortal, soul, spirit.
2. The body, often including clothes.

Example: A knife was found hidden on his person
Thesaurus: body, physique, form, frame.
3. grammar.
Each of the three classes into which pronouns and verb forms fall, first person denoting the speaker (or the speaker and others, eg I and we), second person the person addressed (with or without others, eg you) and third person the person(s) or thing(s) spoken of (eg she, he, it or they).
4. Christianity.
Any of the three forms or manifestations of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) that together form the Trinity (sense 2).
Form: Person
5. Used instead of -man, -woman, etc, to denote a specified activity or office, avoiding illegal or unnecessary discrimination on grounds of sex, eg in job advertisements. Compare chairman, chairwoman, etc.

Example: chairperson
Example: spokesperson

Idiom: be no respecter of persons

To make no allowances for rank or status.

Idiom: in person

Actually present oneself.
Example: was there in person

Doing something oneself, not asking or allowing others to do it for one.

Etymology: 13c: from French persone, from Latin persona actor's mask.