Simple Definition:

Et al is an abbreviation derived from Latin, which means “and others” or “and colleagues.” It is used to refer to additional authors or contributors in a citation or list of authors.

For example:

• In the article, “The Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity,” the authors include John Smith, Jane Doe, et al. (John Smith, Jane Doe and others)
• The research paper was written by Smith et al. (Smith and others)

Very Simple Definition:

Et al means “and others” or “and colleagues.” It is used to refer to additional people in a list of authors.

For example:

• The research paper was written by John Smith et al. (John Smith and his colleagues)