This is the 1520th most frequent German word.
bekannte
"Bekannte" means "acquaintance" or "known person" in English.
In this sentence, 'Bekannte' is used as a plural noun referring to people one knows casually or socially.
Wir trafen viele Bekannte auf der Party.
We met many acquaintances at the party.
Here, 'bekannt' is used as an adjective meaning 'famous' or 'well-known,' with no relation to the noun form.
Diese Stadt ist für ihre historischen Sehenswürdigkeiten bekannt.
This city is known for its historical landmarks.
In this use, 'Bekannte' is a singular noun, feminine form, talking about a person one knows but is not closely affiliated with.