member

member — noun

1. Someone or something counted as part of a larger group — for instance, a family,

1.nounA2
Definition

Someone or something counted as part of a larger group — for instance, a family, a species, a club, or a society.

Example

Ezra is the tallest member of his family, even taller than his father.

member of + family

The whale is a member of the mammal group and breathes air like humans do.

member of + biological category

Common collocations
  • family member
  • team member
  • member of staff
  • member of the public
  • member of society
  • member of a species
Synonyms
  • part

    More general than 'member'; refers to any piece of a whole, not necessarily a belonging entity.

  • component

    More technical; suggests a part that combines with others to form a system or machine.

  • constituent

    More formal; often used for the parts that make up a political body or a chemical substance.

  • element

    Suggests a fundamental or basic part of a larger set or system; common in science.

Grammar Patterns

member of + group/noun phrase

2. A person who has officially joined a club, organization, or team and takes part

2.nounA2
Definition

A person who has officially joined a club, organization, or team and takes part in its activities, often by paying money or completing a registration process.

Example

Ishaan became a member of the chess club after winning his first tournament.

become a member of [club]

The yoga studio offers cheaper rates for members who pay every month.

Common collocations
  • club member
  • become a member
  • join as a member
  • member fee
  • member card
  • member benefits
  • registered member
  • honorary member
Synonyms
  • participant

    Focuses on taking part in an activity rather than formal belonging to a group.

  • fellow

    Often used for members of a learned society or academic institution; more formal.

  • associate

    Suggests a lower level of membership or affiliation, often with fewer privileges.

Antonyms
  • non-member

    A person who does not belong to a particular club or organization.

Grammar Patterns

member of + organization/club

become a member

sign up as a member

Usage Note

This sense differs from sense 1 (PART OF A GROUP) because it focuses on voluntary, formal joining — the person typically fills out a form, pays a fee, or receives a membership card. Sense 1 covers natural or passive belonging, such as being part of a family or species.

Common Mistakes

I am a member of the human family.' (when meaning a club).
I am a member of the local hiking club.
Use sense 1 for natural groups (family, species) and sense 2 for organizations you actively join.

3. Any limb of a human or animal body, such as an arm or leg, which extends outward

3.nounC1
Definition

Any limb of a human or animal body, such as an arm or leg, which extends outward from the torso and is used for moving around or holding things.

Example

The medical report noted swelling in the patient's lower left member.

formal medical usage — lower member

In old anatomy books, the upper member contains bones called the humerus and radius.

Common collocations
  • upper member
  • lower member
  • affected member
  • severed member
Synonyms
  • limb

    The more common and neutral term for an arm or leg; preferred in both everyday and medical language.

  • extremity

    More clinical; refers specifically to hands and feet (distal parts) but can also mean limbs more broadly.

Grammar Patterns

upper member

lower member

affected member

Usage Note

This is a formal or technical term for a limb. In modern everyday English, speakers strongly prefer the words 'arm' or 'leg'. It appears mainly in medical writing, historical texts, or formal anatomical descriptions. Frequently used with modifiers such as 'upper member' (arm) or 'lower member' (leg).

Common Mistakes

I broke my member playing soccer.
I broke my leg playing soccer.
Using 'member' for a limb sounds very formal or odd in everyday conversation; use 'arm' or 'leg' instead.

4. A formal or euphemistic word for the male sexual organ, used especially in older

4.nounC2
Definition

A formal or euphemistic word for the male sexual organ, used especially in older or official texts to avoid saying the direct term.

Example

In Victorian medical texts, the male member was described using indirect language.

formal euphemistic register — male member

The ancient Greek statue had its male member broken off many centuries ago.

Common collocations
  • male member
  • swollen member
Synonyms
  • penis

    The standard, neutral medical term for the male sexual organ.

  • phallus

    More formal and clinical; also used in art history and psychoanalysis.

Grammar Patterns

male member

Usage Note

This is a euphemistic and formal substitute for the standard word 'penis'. It appears mainly in older literature, legal documents, medical reports, and formal discussions. In modern casual conversation, 'penis' is the standard neutral term. Learners should be aware of this meaning for reading comprehension but use caution when speaking — using 'member' this way may sound old-fashioned or overly clinical.

Common Mistakes

The doctor examined his member.' (when reporting a doctor visit).
The doctor examined his genitals.
In modern medical settings, 'member' is rarely used; doctors use clinical terms like 'penis' or 'genitals'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe something that belongs to a larger whole, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Member' is the best choice for living, belonging entities — a person who belongs to a family, club, or species; it implies active identity with the group. 'Part' is the most general and widely used: any piece of anything, from a car engine to a story. 'Component' is more technical and suggests a manufactured or engineered piece that combines with others in a system (e.g., computer components). 'Constituent' is formal and carries political or chemical overtones, as in constituent parts of a government or a compound. 'Element' is the most fundamental and often appears in scientific contexts (elements of the periodic table, elements of a design). For everyday group belonging, use 'member'; for physical pieces, use 'part'; for technical systems, use 'component'.

member ↗part ↗component ↗constituent ↗element ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • family member
  • team member
  • staff member
  • member state
  • member country
  • member organization
  • member nation

Adverbs

  • full member
  • active member
  • founding member
  • honorary member
  • lifetime member
  • newly elected member

Phrases

  • member in good standing

Prepositions

  • member of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'member' comes from the Latin 'membrum', which originally meant a limb or part of the body. This ancient meaning survives in the formal limb sense (sense 3). Over time, the word broadened to refer to any part of a larger group or whole, whether a person in a community or an item in a collection. The euphemistic sense for 'penis' (sense 4) also traces back to the same root, as the Latin 'membrum' was used both for limbs and for the male sexual organ.