The people or the people's party, in ancient Rome, as opposed to the optimates.

Populares, "Favoring the people (singular popularis), were aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tried to use the peoples' assemblies in an effort to break the stranglehold of the nobiles and optimates on political power.

Optimates, "The Best of Men" (singular, optimas), were the aristocratic faction of the later Roman Republic. They wanted to limit the power of the popular assemblies and the Tribunes of the Plebs, and to extend power to the Senate, which was viewed as more stable and more dedicated to the well-being of Rome.