Meanings
- uncountableThe total number of all available workers; the workforce.
phased increases in manpower
3 more examples
Near-synonyms: human resources, personnel
The closure is stated officially to be solely due to the manpower position.
1944 July and August, “Notes and News: Crystal Palace Line Closed”, in Railway Magazine, page 248Since manpower represents so high a proportion of railway costs, attention by management to the study of work procedures with a view to better utilisation of—"and indeed greater rewards for"—the manpower employed was of special importance, said Mr. Blee.
1959 May, “Talking of Trains: L.M. passenger plan coming”, in Trains Illustrated, page 233Synonyms: humanpower, human resources, personnel
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe total number of all available workers; the workforce.
nounThe power exerted by a single person.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Finnish ihmisvoima, miesvoima
- ihmisvoimapower exerted by a single person
- miesvoimapower exerted by a single person
Italian manodopera, forza lavoro
- manodoperapower exerted by a single person
- forza lavoropower exerted by a single person
Polish siła ludzkich mięśni
- siła ludzkich mięśnipower exerted by a single person
Spanish mano de obra
- mano de obrapower exerted by a single person
Cite this entry
manpower. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manpower
“manpower.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manpower. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “manpower,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manpower.
Source: manpower on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.