hoi pol·loi \|hȯipə|lȯi, chiefly Brit hȯiˈpäˌlȯi\noun plural Etymology: Greek hoi polloi the many 1.: ordinary people : the general populace : multitude, masses < strain so hard in making their questions comprehensible to hoi polloi — S.L.Payne > < burlesque performance … for the hoi polloi — Henry Miller > 2.: people of distinction or wealth or elevated social status : elite