Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "jama'a" tana nufin halayen jama'a, kamar shekaru, jinsi, launin fata, samun kudin shiga, ilimi, da sauran abubuwan da suka dace da ke bayyana da kuma bambanta ƙungiyoyin mutane. Har ila yau, ana amfani da shi don bayyana nazari da nazarin waɗannan halaye da yanayin yawan jama'a, musamman ma dangane da tasirin su ga sakamakon zamantakewa, tattalin arziki, da siyasa. 'Yan kasuwa, gwamnatoci, da kungiyoyi galibi suna amfani da bayanan alƙaluma don yanke shawara mai fa'ida da kuma daidaita dabarunsu ga takamaiman ƙungiyoyi.