Everybody

/ˈev.riˌbɒd.i/ (UK), /ˈev.riˌbɑː.di/ (US) pronoun

Definition

Everybody means all the people in a group, without exception. It is used when you are talking about people in general or everyone present.

Etymology

It combines 'every' and 'body', where 'body' once meant 'person' or 'individual'. Over time, the phrase fused into a single pronoun used for groups of people.

Kelly Says

Even though it says 'body', 'everybody' really means 'every person', body and mind together. English also has 'everyone', and the fact that both exist shows how much we like repeating the idea of 'all of you, no one left out'.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

In English, ‘everybody’ and similar terms often implicitly referred to men in legal, political, and professional contexts, where women and other genders were excluded in practice. Over time, usage has shifted toward genuinely inclusive reference, but remnants of male-default assumptions can persist.

Inclusive Usage

Use ‘everybody’ when you genuinely mean all genders, and ensure your examples and imagery reflect that inclusiveness.

Inclusive Alternatives

["everyone","all people","all of you"]

Related Words

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