fellowship

fellowship — noun

1. An organized body of individuals united by a common interest, belief, or objecti

1.nounB2
Definition

An organized body of individuals united by a common interest, belief, or objective, meeting on a regular basis.

Example

The local women's fellowship meets every Tuesday evening at the community center.

collocation: local fellowship

Adaeze joined a fellowship of young scientists who share research ideas online.

pattern: fellowship of + noun (group of people)

Common collocations
  • local fellowship
  • Christian fellowship
  • student fellowship
  • youth fellowship
Synonyms
  • society

    a more formal, often permanent organization

  • association

    emphasises the shared purpose more than the personal bond

  • club

    less formal and more leisure-oriented than fellowship

Grammar Patterns

fellowship + of + noun

2. A warm, friendly connection that develops between people who share an activity,

2.nounB2
Definition

A warm, friendly connection that develops between people who share an activity, interest, or purpose — for example, the bond felt by teammates or colleagues.

Example

After hiking together for three days, the group felt a strong sense of fellowship.

collocation: sense of fellowship

The fellowship among the night-shift nurses made the long hours much easier to bear.

Common collocations
  • sense of fellowship
  • spirit of fellowship
  • warm fellowship
  • true fellowship
Synonyms
  • camaraderie

    more informal and suggests close, easy friendship among a small group

  • companionship

    focuses on the simple fact of being together rather than shared activity

  • solidarity

    emphasises mutual support especially during difficulty

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sense of fellowship

fellowship among + plural noun

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable and often appears in phrases such as 'sense of fellowship' or 'spirit of fellowship.' Unlike sense 1, it refers to a feeling, not to an organization.

Common Mistakes

I have a fellowship with my classmates.
I feel a sense of fellowship with my classmates.
'fellowship' is uncountable in this meaning, so 'a fellowship' sounds like an organization (sense 1) or a grant (sense 4).

3. A senior teaching or research position at a university or college, usually held

3.nounC1
Definition

A senior teaching or research position at a university or college, usually held for a fixed period.

Example

Dr. Okafor was awarded a research fellowship at Cambridge University last spring.

pattern: research fellowship at + institution

Sumin applied for a teaching fellowship in the history department this autumn.

Common collocations
  • research fellowship
  • teaching fellowship
  • postdoctoral fellowship
  • junior fellowship
Synonyms
  • post

    more general; does not imply the fixed-term or research focus of a fellowship

  • appointment

    formal term for being given a position

Grammar Patterns

a fellowship in + subject/field

a fellowship at + institution

Usage Note

Often modified by a field or type: 'research fellowship,' 'teaching fellowship,' 'postdoctoral fellowship.' Distinguish from sense 4 — a fellowship as an ACADEMIC POST is a job, whereas a fellowship as a RESEARCH GRANT is money to support study.

Common Mistakes

She got a fellowship to study medicine.' (ambiguous — could be a grant or a post).
She got a research fellowship at the medical school.
adding 'research' and 'at' clarifies it is a position.

4. Financial support awarded to a postgraduate student to fund further study or res

4.nounB2
Definition

Financial support awarded to a postgraduate student to fund further study or research beyond the first degree.

Example

Nila received a generous fellowship to complete her doctoral research on climate change.

pattern: fellowship to + verb (purpose)

The foundation offers summer fellowships for graduate students studying public health.

Common collocations
  • graduate fellowship
  • research fellowship
  • summer fellowship
  • fellowship award
Synonyms
  • scholarship

    usually based on academic merit; may be for undergraduate or postgraduate study

  • grant

    a broader term that includes funding for projects, not just study

  • stipend

    strictly the regular payment received, not the award itself

Grammar Patterns

fellowship + to + verb

fellowship for + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Commonly called a 'fellowship' in North American universities; in British English 'studentship' or 'scholarship' may be used instead. Unlike sense 3, this does not involve a teaching or research appointment — it is purely financial support.

Common Mistakes

I won a fellowship to work as a professor.
I won a fellowship to fund my PhD research.
a fellowship (grant) pays for your studies, not for work as a professor.

5. The recognized rank of an individual who has been admitted into a learned societ

5.nounC1
Definition

The recognized rank of an individual who has been admitted into a learned society or professional institution, typically based on their qualifications.

Example

Eshe was granted fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry in recognition of her work.

pattern: fellowship of + institution

Full fellowship of the institute requires at least five years of professional experience.

collocation: full fellowship

Common collocations
  • full fellowship
  • election to fellowship
  • fellowship of the society
Synonyms
  • membership

    more general; fellowship often implies a higher or elected rank within the organization

Grammar Patterns

fellowship of + institution

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 3: sense 5 is a status or rank (you are 'a fellow' of the society), whereas sense 3 is a job at a university. Common in the names of learned societies: 'Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons.'

Common Mistakes

She earned a fellowship at the chemistry society.' (ambiguous — could mean a job or membership).
She earned fellowship of the chemistry society.
'of' signals membership status.

fellowship — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe positive social bonds, but they differ in emphasis. 'Camaraderie' is the most informal and suggests the easy, cheerful closeness that grows among people in the same situation — teammates, soldiers, or colleagues on a long project. 'Companionship' is simpler and focuses on the comfort of not being alone; you can enjoy companionship with someone you barely know if you share a quiet train ride. 'Solidarity' is the most political: it implies standing with a group through shared struggle or opinion, even in the absence of personal warmth. 'Friendship' is the broadest everyday term for a mutual affectionate relationship. 'Fellowship' sits between 'camaraderie' and 'solidarity': it carries warmth (like camaraderie) but often involves a shared purpose or belief (like solidarity). For example, volunteers rebuilding a flood-damaged town might feel fellowship (warmth + purpose), while two people chatting at a bus stop experience companionship rather than fellowship.

camaraderiecompanionship ↗solidarity ↗friendship ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • sense of fellowship
  • spirit of fellowship
  • bond of fellowship

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fellowship comes from the Old English word 'fēolagscipe,' a combination of 'fēolaga' (fellow, comrade) and '-scipe' (-ship, meaning state or condition of being). The word originally meant 'companionship' and has been in English since around the 12th century. Over time its meaning expanded from the feeling of friendship to include groups of people who share a purpose, and later to specific academic and professional titles.