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Hoi polloi (Greek 'οι πολλοι), an expression meaning "the many" in Ancient Greek, is used in English to denote "the masses" or "the people," usually in a derogatory sense. Since "hoi" means "the," it is, strictly speaking, incorrect to say "the hoi polloi," but this usage is well-established.
The phrase is often misused to refer to the upper class, which is the exact opposite of its actual meaning.
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