A collective noun is a noun that refers to a group of people or things as a whole. For example, a “school” of fish is a collective noun, as is a “flock” of birds. Collective nouns can be used to make your writing more concise and interesting.
List of Collective Nouns
Here are 20 examples of collective nouns:
Group
Team
Committee
Choir
Herd
Pack
Flock
Swarm
Fleet
Band
Squad
Class
Colony
Assembly
Crowd
Tribe
Family
Staff
Congregation
Council
Collective Nouns with meaning and example:
Group
Meaning: A collection of people or things gathered together.
Example: The hiking club went out in a group to explore the wilderness.
Team
Meaning: A group of individuals working together towards a common goal.
Example: The soccer team practiced diligently to prepare for the championship match.
Committee
Meaning: A group of people appointed for a specific task or function.
Example: The organizing committee met to plan the upcoming charity event.
Choir
Meaning: A group of singers who perform together, typically in a church or musical setting.
Example: The church choir sang beautifully during the Sunday morning service.
Herd
Meaning: A large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, that live, feed, or migrate together.
Example: The herd of elephants moved gracefully across the savannah.
Pack
Meaning: A group of animals, especially carnivores, that hunt or travel together.
Example: The wolf pack hunted in the moonlit forest.
Flock
Meaning: A group of birds, especially domesticated ones, that fly or feed together.
Example: A flock of seagulls circled above the beach.
Swarm
Meaning: A large group of insects, typically flying or moving together.
Example: The garden was overrun by a swarm of bees.
Fleet
Meaning: A group of ships or vehicles, especially those under one command.
Example: The naval fleet sailed into the harbor with great pomp and ceremony.
Band
Meaning: A group of musicians who perform together.
Example: The rock band played their new song at the music festival.
Squad
Meaning: A small group of people working together within a larger group, especially in sports or military contexts.
Example: The police squad conducted a thorough investigation of the crime scene.
Class
Meaning: A group of students who are taught together.
Example: The chemistry class conducted experiments in the laboratory.
Colony
Meaning: A group of people who settle in a new area but maintain ties with their homeland.
Example: The British established a colony in North America in the 17th century.
Assembly
Meaning: A group of people gathered together, especially for a formal meeting or discussion.
Example: The political assembly debated the proposed legislation.
Crowd
Meaning: A large group of people gathered closely together.
Example: The crowd cheered as the parade passed by.
Tribe
Meaning: A social group consisting of families or communities united by common ancestry, culture, or tradition.
Example: The indigenous tribe held a sacred ceremony to honor their ancestors.
Family
Meaning: A group of individuals related by blood or marriage.
Example: The extended family gathered for a reunion at the lake house.
Staff
Meaning: A group of employees working together in an organization or institution.
Example: The hospital staff worked tirelessly to care for patients during the pandemic.
Congregation
Meaning: A group of people gathered for religious worship or observance.
Example: The congregation sang hymns together during the church service.
Council
Meaning: A group of people elected or appointed to make decisions or provide advice.
Example: The city council convened to discuss zoning regulations.
Collective nouns are a valuable tool for English speakers. They can be used to make your writing more concise and interesting, and they can also help you to better understand the English language.
