What does "fellowship" mean?
A company of people that share the same interest or aim.
Fellowship
/ˈfɛləʃɪp/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A company of people that share the same interest or aim.
- Grammar: fellowship is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: companionship, society, a scholarship, accord.
- Useful contrasts: discord, disorganization, estrangement.
- Usage evidence: He longs for the fellowship of the rich.
How to use "fellowship"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fellowship" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fellowship" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fellowship" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fellowship" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fellowship" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "companionship" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fellowship", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A company of people that share the same interest or aim. countable, uncountable
"The Fellowship of the Ring"
- 2 an association of people who share common beliefs or activities wordnet
- 3 Company, companions; a group of people or things following another. countable, dated, uncountable
"[…]But then the mind much ſufferance doth or'e ſcip, When griefe hath mates,and bearing fellowſhip : How light and portable my paine ſeemes now, When that which makes me bend, makes the King bow, He childed as I fathered,Tom away, Marke the high noyſes and thy ſelfe bewray,[…]"
- 4 money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research wordnet
- 5 A feeling of friendship, relatedness or connection between people. countable, uncountable
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 the state of being with someone wordnet
- 7 A merit-based scholarship. countable, uncountable
"There is a significant investment in scholarships and fellowships and traineeships, so that we are also making sure that we’re investing in domestic work force."
- 8 A temporary position at an academic institution with limited teaching duties and ample time for research. countable, uncountable
- 9 A period of supervised, sub-specialty medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program or residency. countable, uncountable
- 10 The proportional division of profit and loss among partners. archaic, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To admit to fellowship, enter into fellowship with; to make feel welcome by showing friendship or building a cordial relationship. Now only in religious use. transitive
"The Bishop's family fellowshipped the new converts."
- 2 To join in fellowship; to associate with. US, especially, intransitive
"The megachurch he attends is too big for making personal connections, so he also fellowships weekly in one of the church's small groups."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"He longs for the fellowship of the rich."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fellowship"?
Common synonyms include: companionship, society, a scholarship, accord, accordance, acquaintance.
How do you use "fellowship" in a sentence?
He longs for the fellowship of the rich.
How do you pronounce "fellowship"?
Pronounced /ˈfɛləʃɪp/.
Etymology
From Middle English felowschipe, felawshipe, felaȝschyp, equivalent to fellow + -ship; or perhaps adapted from Old Norse félagskapr, félagsskapr (“fellowship”). Compare Icelandic félagsskapur (“companionship, company, community”), Danish fællesskab (“fellowship”), Norwegian fellesskap (“fellowship”), and Old Swedish fælaghskap (“fellowship”)