List of Collective adjectives describing group of people

Collective adjectives are adjectives that can stand in for nouns to refer to a whole group of people who share a particular quality or condition. Instead of naming individuals, they describe people as a category: for example, the blind means “people who are blind,” and the injured means “people who are injured.” In this use, the adjective is doing the job of a noun.

These are different from collective nouns, which are true nouns naming groups (such as a band of musicians, a gang of thieves, a panel of experts, a troupe of dancers). Collective adjectives, by contrast, always appear with the definite article the (the homeless, the rich, the elderly) and are understood as plural, so they take plural verbs and pronouns:

• The injured are being airlifted to the nearest hospital.
• The young have their own way of doing things; they often challenge tradition.

On this page, you’ll find a list of common collective adjectives used in English to describe groups of people, along with examples to show how they work in real sentences.

• the able-bodied – The able-bodied are encouraged to volunteer at the marathon.
• the aged – The aged are entitled to discounted public transport in many cities.
• the affluent – The affluent often have greater access to private healthcare.
• the bereaved – Counselors offered support to the bereaved after the accident.
• the blind – Audio signals at crossings help the blind navigate safely.
• the brave – Memorials were built to honor the brave who died in battle.
• the careful – The careful are less likely to make costly mistakes.
• the careless – Fines were introduced to discourage the careless from littering.
• the dead – A ceremony was held to remember the dead from the war.
• the deaf – Subtitles make films more accessible to the deaf.
• the departed – The community gathered in silence to remember the departed.
• the deprived – The new program offers scholarships to the deprived.
• the disadvantaged – Free legal aid is available to the disadvantaged.
• the disabled – Ramps and lifts help the disabled access public buildings.
• the displaced – Emergency shelters were set up for the displaced after the flood.
• the downtrodden – The charity works to give the downtrodden a voice.
• the dumb – The term the dumb is now considered offensive and is rarely used in modern English.
• the educated – The educated are expected to lead the discussion on policy reform.
• the elderly – Home-care services allow the elderly to live independently.
• the fortunate – The fortunate are encouraged to donate to those in need.
• the guilty – The court must decide how the guilty should be punished.
• the handicapped – The phrase the handicapped is outdated; most people now say “people with disabilities.”
• the hardworking – Bonuses were awarded to the hardworking at the end of the year.
• the healthy – The healthy are advised to donate blood regularly if they can.
• the helpless – The organization provides food and shelter for the helpless.
• the homeless – A new shelter has opened to support the homeless during winter.
• the illiterate – Adult classes were set up to help the illiterate learn to read.
• the ignorant – Laws alone cannot protect the ignorant from scams; education is crucial.
• the injured – The injured are being treated at the nearest hospital.
• the innocent – The lawyer insisted that the innocent must be protected at all costs.
• the infirm – Special seating is reserved for the infirm and the elderly on buses.
• the intelligent – Scholarships are often offered to the intelligent who excel academically.
• the jobless – Training schemes have been introduced to help the jobless find work.
• the living – Memorials remind the living of the sacrifices made in the past.
• the lonely – Support groups have been created to help the lonely connect with others.
• the marginalized – New policies aim to include the marginalized in decision-making.
• the meek – In the story, the meek eventually stand up for themselves.
• the mentally challenged – Special education programs are designed to support the mentally challenged.
• the middle-aged – Health campaigns often target the middle-aged to encourage regular checkups.
• the needy – Donations will be distributed among the needy in the community.
• the needy – Food banks were established to assist the needy during the crisis.
• the old – The old often share stories that preserve cultural traditions.
• the oppressed – The movement sought justice for the oppressed.
• the oppressed poor – Aid agencies are focusing on the oppressed poor in rural regions.
• the overworked – Short breaks can help the overworked avoid burnout.
• the poor – The new policy provides housing assistance for the poor.
• the powerful – Journalists must hold the powerful accountable.
• the privileged – The privileged are urged to recognize their advantages.
• the rebellious – In every generation, the rebellious challenge the status quo.
• the religious – Public holidays are often important to the religious.
• the retired – Community centers offer classes and activities for the retired.
• the rural poor – Healthcare access remains a major issue for the rural poor.
• the sick – Volunteers visited the sick in hospital.
• the starving – International aid was sent to feed the starving.
• the strong – In times of crisis, the strong support those who are struggling.
• the underprivileged – Scholarships were created to help the underprivileged attend university.
• the unemployed – Job fairs were organized to assist the unemployed.
• the uneducated – Campaigns focus on providing basic literacy to the uneducated.
• the unfit – Training programs help the unfit improve their health.
• the uninformed – Public announcements were made to reach the uninformed.
• the uninitiated – The guide explains technical terms for the uninitiated.
• the uninsured – The new law offers assistance to the uninsured.
• the unsheltered – Emergency beds were provided for the unsheltered during the storm.
• the urban poor – Housing costs have risen sharply for the urban poor.
• the vulnerable – Social workers focus on protecting the vulnerable.
• the weak – The system must not be designed only for the strong but also for the weak.
• the weary – Rest stops were built along the highway for the weary.
• the well-off – Higher tax rates were proposed for the well-off.
• the wounded – Medics rushed to help the wounded after the explosion.
• the wronged – The commission was set up to compensate the wronged.
• the young – Camps were organized to teach leadership skills to the young.
• the young at heart – The festival welcomes not only children but also the young at heart.