Pluralperson

Pluralperson is a coined term used in linguistic and social theory to describe a unit made up of multiple individuals that is treated as a single agent in language and argument. The concept highlights how groups can act or be described as either a unified entity or as a collection of distinct actors, depending on context and perspective. Although not widely standardized, pluralperson appears in discussions of collective agency, group identity, and morphosyntactic agreement.

In grammar, pluralperson refers to how a group subject is treated by verbs and pronouns: as a unit with singular agreement, or as multiple actors with plural agreement. For example, in English, some group subjects may take singular verbs (The committee has decided) while others may take plural verbs (The committee have decided), depending on whether the speaker regards the group as a single unit or as a collection of individuals. This variation is often examined alongside collective nouns, group agreement, and distributive syntax to understand how speakers encode perceived unity or plurality within groups.

In sociolinguistics and philosophy, pluralperson also signals collective identity and shared intent. Usage can reflect inclusive or exclusive group perspectives, hierarchy within a group, or stance toward group autonomy. Proponents argue that recognizing pluralperson helps describe how language negotiates group agency, solidarity, and responsibility.

The term is not an established label in major reference grammars, but it appears in theoretical discussions as a way to describe the interface between group composition and linguistic form. Related concepts include collective noun usage, group agreement, and notions of collective agency in philosophy.