Hoi polloi

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 incorrect to say the hoi polloi, even though 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.