N-SING-COLL [with singular or plural verb](尤用于相对小群体而言的)大众,公众,普通百姓 You can refer to the people in a society as the general public, especially when you are contrasting people in general with a small group. (尤用于相对小群体而言的)大众,公众,普通百姓
These charities depend on the compassionate feelings and generosity of the general public.
这些慈善团体依赖于公众的怜悯之心和慷慨解囊。
Unemployment is 10 percent among the general public and about 40 percent among North African immigrants.
the general public ♦︎ the masses ♦︎ the working class ♦︎ the proletariat ♦︎ the populace ♦︎ the crowd ♦︎ riff-raffThese are all words for the ordinary people in a society or country.这些词均表示普通百姓、群众、公众。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the French / Russian, etc. masses / working class / proletariat / populace◆the rural / urban masses / working class / proletariat■the ˌgeneral ˈpublic [singular + singular or plural verb] ordinary people, especially when contrasted with members of a particular group or organization who have greater knowledge of or involvement in a particular situation普通百姓;公众◆At that time, the general public was not aware of the health risks.当时,公众对各种危及健康的因素尚不了解。◆The exhibition is not open to the general public.这次展览不对公众开放。 see also the public ⇨ community■the masses [plural] (ratherformal) ordinary people in society who are not leaders or who are not considered to be very well educated群众;平民百姓◆The railways provided cheap transport for the masses.铁路为老百姓提供了便宜的交通方式。◆This is yet another bid to introduce opera to the masses.这是向群众介绍歌剧的又一努力。■the ˌworking ˈclass [singular + singular or plural verb] ( the working classes [plural]) the social class of people who do not have much money or power and are usually employed to do manual work(= physical work with their hands)工人阶级;劳工阶层◆His films were the first to address the real issues of the working class.他的那些电影最先触及工人阶级的真实问题。◆Boxing was seen as a sport for the working classes.当时拳击被认为是劳工阶层的运动。 see also the middle class ⇨ middle classnoun, the upper class ⇨ elitenoun, working class ⇨ working classadj., class ⇨ classnoun4■the proletariatˌprəʊləˈteəriət; NAmEˌproʊləˈteriət [singular + singular or plural verb] (technical术语) (used especially when talking about the past) ordinary people who earn money by working, especially those who do not own any property(尤用于指过去的)无产阶级◆Marx wrote of the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.马克思描写了资产阶级和无产阶级之间的阶级斗争。◆There was a rapid growth of the industrial proletariat.工业无产阶级迅速壮大。OPPthe bourgeoisie ⇨ middle classnoun see also proletarian ⇨ working class■the populaceˈpɒpjələs; NAmEˈpɑːpjələs [singular + singular or plural verb] (formal) all the ordinary people of a particular area or country(某地区或国家的)平民百姓,民众◆He recorded the effects of the war on the local populace.他记录了战争对当地民众的影响。■the crowd [singular] (sometimesdisapproving) ordinary people who are not special or unusual in any way群众;老百姓;凡夫俗子◆We all like to think we stand out from the crowd(= are different from other people).我们都喜欢自认为高人一等。◆He prefers to be one of the crowd(= not noticed as different or unusual).他宁愿做个凡夫俗子。◆She's quite happy to follow the crowd(= to do the same as other people).她挺愿意随大溜。■ˈriff-raff [uncountable + singular or plural verb] (disapproving, oftenhumorous) an insulting way of referring to people of low social class or people who are not considered socially acceptable贱民;草民;下等人◆We don't want to let all the riff-raff in.我们不想让下等人进来。