Word.ws English Dictionary

fellow

Syllables: fel·lowUK/ˈfɛ.ləʊ/

More pronunciations (1)Fewer pronunciations

Scotland/ˈfɛ.lo/

fellow noun: a companion; a comrade. Also the alternative form of fella.

Noun

fellow (plural fellows)

  1. (also, figuratively, in plural) A companion; a comrade.
    • But now vnderſtand you, that the kingdome of God is communicated vntoo you by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, bycauſe he hath purchaced it for you, and made you his brethren and fellowes.1577, Iohn Calvin, “The .XXXIIII. Sermon, which is the Second vppon the Fifth Chapter”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The Sermons of M. Iohn Calvin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. […]...
    • [W]e are Fellovves ſtill, / Seruing alike in ſorrovv: […]c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
  2. (in plural) An animal which is a member of a breed or species, or a flock, herd, etc.
    • But as ſome of the Oxen in driving, miſſed their fellovvs behind and honing after them, bellovved as their nature is: Hercules chanced to heare them lovv again, and anſvver from out of the cave vvherein they had been beſtovved: vvhereat he turned back, and made haſte thither.1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “[Book I]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC, page 6
    • A Certain Shepherd had One Favourite-Dog, that he had a Particular Confidence in above all the reſt. He fed him vvith his Ovvn hand, and took more Care of him, in ſhort, then of any of his Fellovvs.1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Abstemius, &c.] Fab[le] CCCXXX. A Sheep-biter Hang’d.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 287
  3. (in plural) An object which is associated with another object; especially, as part of a set.
    • But five tall barks the vvinds and vvaters toſt / Far from their fellovvs, on th’Ægyptian coaſt.1725, Homer, “Book III”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 118, lines 382–383
    • The great cannon of Mahomet has been ſeparately noticed; an important and viſible object in the hiſtory of the times: but that enormous engine was flanked by two fellows [i.e., cannons] almoſt of equal magnitude: […]1788, Edward Gibbon, chapter LXVII, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 485
  4. (also, attributive) One comparable in characteristics with another; especially, as belonging to the same class or group.
    • my fellow Americans
    • Rebecca and her fellow workers are to go on strike.
    1. (also, attributive) One with abilities, achievements, skills, etc., equal to those of another; a thing with characteristics, worth, etc., equal to those of another thing.
      • {{|en|to be without fellow}}
      • to have no fellows
    2. (also, attributive, in plural) One in the same condition, or situation of need, as another.
      • [I]rrationall creatures cannot diſtinguiſh betvveene Injury, and Dammage; and therefore as long as they be at eaſe, they are not offended vvith their fellovves: […]1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Causes, Generation, and Definition of a Common-wealth”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William...
      • And oft I wiſh, amidſt the ſcene, to find / Some ſpot to real happineſs conſign'd, / Where my worn ſoul, each wand'ring hope at reſt, / May gather bliſs to ſee my fellows bleſt.1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or A Prospect of Society. A Poem. […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], →OCLC, page 4
    3. (also, archaic, attributive, in plural) An equal in character, power, rank, etc.; a peer.
      • Are yet tvvo Romans liuing ſuch as theſe? / The laſt of all the Romans, far thee vvell: / It is impoſſible, that euer Rome / Should breed thy fellovv.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
      • [C]hieftaine of the reſt / I choſe him heere, the earth ſhall him allovv, / His fellovves late, ſhall be his ſubiects novv.1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The First Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold]...
    4. (also, archaic, attributive, in plural) One living at the same time, or about the same age as another, especially when in the same field of study or work.
  5. An academic who constitutes an educational institution (such as a college or university); now particularly, a senior member involved in teaching, research, and management of the institution.
    • In the Parliament novv ſitting at VVeſtminſter (in vvhoſe parallel Convocation nothing of conſequence) the moſt remarkable thing Enacted vvas, the Act made to enable the Provoſt, and Fellovves of Chelsey-Colledge, to dig a trench out of the river Lee, […]1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section III. To Thomæ Dacres de Chesthunt, Armig:.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book X, subsection 19 (An Act for...
    • One Thomas Stanbridge, […] vvho dying 1522, left ſeveral Books to the Coll. of vvhich he had been Fellovv; vvhich, if I miſtake not, vvas Magd[alen] College.1691, [Anthony Wood], “JOHN STANBRIDGE”, in Athenæ Oxonienses. An Exact History of All the Writers and Bishops who have had Their Education in the Most Ancient and Famous University of Oxford from...
  6. A (senior) member of a learned or professional society.
    • a Fellow of the Royal Society
    • I was now chosen (and nominated by his Majestie for one of yᵉ Council) by suffrage of the rest of yᵉ Members, a Fellow of yᵉ Philosophic Society now meeting at Gresham College, where was an assembly of divers learning gentlemen.1661 January 15 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 6 January 1661]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume...
  7. (UK, historical, specifically) A senior member of an Inn of Court.
    • About the ſame time he vvent to London, became Fellovv of the Middle Temple, and aftervvards tranſlated from Lat. to Engliſh The five Books of Hieronimus Oſorius, containing a diſcourſe of Civil and Chriſtian Nobility, Lond. 1576. qu[arto].1691, [Anthony Wood], “WILLIAM BLANDIE”, in Athenæ Oxonienses. An Exact History of All the Writers and Bishops who have had Their Education in the Most Ancient and Famous University of Oxford from...
  8. An honorary title bestowed by an educational instutition upon a distinguished person (often an alumna or alumnus).
  9. (UK) A scholar appointed to a fellowship, that is, a paid academic position held for a certain period which usually requires the scholar to conduct research.
  10. (Canada, US) A physician undergoing a fellowship (supervised subspecialty medical training) after having completed a residency (specialty training program).
  11. (US) A member of a college or university who manages its business interests.
  12. (US) A senior researcher or technician in a corporation, especially one engaged in research and development.
Show 12 more meaningsShow fewer meanings
  1. (informal) A male person; a bloke, a chap, a guy, a man; also, preceded by a modifying word, sometimes with a sense of mild reproach: used as a familiar term of address to a man.
    • my dear fellow
    • old fellow
  2. An individual regardless of gender; usually qualified by an adjective or used in the plural.
    • [H]e would sometimes reward her with a hearty slap on the back, and protest that she was a devilish good fellow, a jolly dog, and so forth; all of which compliments Miss Sally would receive in entire good part and with perfect satisfaction.1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “Chapter the Thirty-fifth”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, →OCLC, page 298
    • The cut of her dress from the waist upward, both before and behind, made her figure very like a boy's kite; and I might have pronounced her gown a little too decidedly-orange, and her gloves a little too intensely green. But she seemed to be a good sort of fellow, and showed a high regard for the...1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter XVII, in Great Expectations […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 287
  3. (broadly, humorous, ironic, often) An animal or object.
    • In short, this fellow (laying his hand on his purse) who, thou knowest, father, was somewhat lank and low in condition when I set out four months since, is now as round and full as a six-weeks' porker.1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume I, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin...
    • So I took the gun and went up a piece into the woods and was hunting around for some birds, when I see a wild pig; hogs soon went wild in them bottoms after they had got away from the prairie farms. I shot this fellow and took him into camp.1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter VII, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, pages 51–52
  4. (archaic) One of a pair of things suited to each other or used together; a counterpart, a mate.
    • Let me ſee thy gloue. Looke you, / This the fellovv of it. / It vvas I indeed you promiſed to ſtrike.1599 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Cronicle History of Henry the Fift, […] (First Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Tho[mas] Millington, and Iohn Busby […], published 1600, →OCLC...
    • I vvalk'd about on the Shore, […] reflecting upon all my Comrades that vvere drovvn'd, […] I never ſavv them aftervvards, or any Sign of them, except three of their Hats, one Cap, and tvvo Shoes that vvere not Fellovvs.1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 53
    1. (archaic, obsolete) A partner in life or marriage; particularly, a male lover, a boyfriend, a husband; also, the mate of an animal.
      • [N]ovv vvhen they be but heyfers of one year, or tvvo years at the moſt (vvhich is more tollerable) they are let goe to the fellovv and breed.1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VIII.] Of Buls, Kine, and Oxen.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C....
      • I am your vvife, if you vvill marrie me; / If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellovv / You may denie me, but Ile be your ſeruant / VVhether you vvill or no.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published...
  5. (obsolete) A colleague or partner.
    • Time, and Heat, are Fellovves in many Effects. Heat drieth Bodies, that doe eaſily expire; As Parchment, Leaues, Roots, Clay, &c. And, ſo doth Time or Age arefie; […]1631, Francis [Bacon], “III. Century. [Experiment Solitary Touching the Like Operations of Heat, and Time.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London...
    1. (also, figuratively, obsolete, specifically) An associate in the commission of a crime or other wrongful act; an accomplice.
      • For certaine / Either ſome one like us night founder'd here, / Or elſe ſome neighbour vvood man, or at worſt / Some roaving robber calling to his fellovvs.1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey...
  6. (obsolete) A close companion or friend; also, a companion or friend whom one eats or drinks with.
    • If thou be for his profit, he vſeth the: but yf thou haue nothinge, he ſhal forſake the. As longe as thou haſt eny thinge of thine owne, he ſhal be a good felowe with the: Yee he ſhal make the a bare man, and not be ſory for it.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, xiij:[4–5], folio...
    • [T]ruly for the Engliſheman to bee offended with the admixtion of Latine, or the Latine manne to miſlike the poutheryng of Greke, appereth vnto me a moche like thing, as […] one that drinketh ſingle Beere, ſhould be greued with his next feloe, for drinking ale or wine.1564 February, Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], “Nicolas Vdall vnto the Gentle and Honeste Harted Readers Well to Fare”, in Erasmus, translated by Nicolas Udall, Apophthegmes, that is to Saie...
  7. (obsolete) One who participates in an activity; a participant; followed by of.
    • For behold me, / A Fellovv of the Royall Bed, vvhich ovve / A Moitie of the Throne: […]c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
    • [C]ruel his eye, but caſt / Signs of remorſe and paſſion to behold / The fellows of his crime, […]1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
  8. (obsolete) A man without good breeding or of lower social status; a common or ignoble man; also, used as a polite term of address.
    • Gramercie fellovv: there, drinke that for me. Throvves him his Purſe.c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
    • Thou fellovv, a vvorde. / VVho gaue thee this letter?c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby...
  9. (obsolete) A servant or slave.
    • But before al of them were assembled to begin their sports, there came a fellow, who being out of breath (or seeming so to be for haste) with humble hastines told Basilius, that his Mistres, the Lady Cecropia, had sent him to excuse the mischance of her beastes ranging in that dãgerous sort, being...c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New...
  10. (derogatory, obsolete) A worthless person; a churl, a knave; also, used as a term of address.
    • Iff I were a fleſhly felowe, and a preacher of lyes and tolde them that they might ſyt bebbinge and bollynge, and be droncken: O that were a prophet for this people.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Micheas [Micah]...
    • And vvho doth lead them but a paltrey fellovv,? / Long kept in Brittaine at our mothers coſt, / A milkeſopt, one that neuer in his life / Felt ſo much colde as ouer ſhooes in ſnovv: […]c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC...
  11. (UK, obsolete, slang) Synonym of schoolmate: a student at the same school.
    • Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, →ISBN, page 26
    Synonyms:
    schoolmate
  12. (Southern US, derogatory, obsolete) A black man.

Verb

fellow (third-person singular simple present fellows, present participle fellowing, simple past and past participle fellowed)

  1. (archaic, transitive) To address (someone) as "fellow", especially in an insulting manner (see noun sense 10.6).
    • 'Don't Fellovv me,' ſaid the Bailiff, 'I am as good a Fellovv as yourſelf, I believe, tho' you have that Ribbond in your Hat there.'1751 December (indicated as 1752), Henry Fielding, “Which Inclines Rather to Satir than Panegyric”, in Amelia, volume III, London: […] [William Strahan] for A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, book VIII...
    • "I dare say—I dare day—my good fellow." / "Fellow not me—I won't be fellowed now; I say I have the best of it here—man to man—I am your match."1837, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter IX, in Ernest Maltravers […] , volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book IV, page 108
  2. (archaic, poetic, transitive, chiefly passive voice) To equal (someone or something); also, to cause or find someone or something to be equal to (another).
    • For my part, let me rather affect and applaud the harmleſs humor of that miſ-called Saint, vvho in an indiſcreet humility called every VVoolf his brother, and every Sheep, yea, every Ant his ſiſter, fellovving himſelf vvith every thing that had life in it, as vvell as himſelf; […]1648, J[oseph] Hall, chapter C, in Select Thoughts: Or, Choice Helps for a Pious Spirit. […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Brooke, […], published 1654, →OCLC, pages 294–295
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To pair or suit (someone or something) with another; also, to pair or suit someone or something with (another); to arrange (things) in pairs.
  4. (also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive) To associate or join (oneself, someone, or something) with another in companionship or a partnership.
    • [A] man by nature is rather deſirous to fellow him ſelfe to another and ſo to liue in couple, than to adherd^([sic – meaning adhere?]) himſelfe with many.1562–1565 (date written), Thomas Smyth [i.e., Thomas Smith], “The First Sort or Beginning of an House or Familie Called οἰκονομία”, in De Republica Anglorum. The Maner of Gouernement or Policie of...
  5. (obsolete, reflexive, sometimes, transitive, chiefly passive voice) To cause or portray (someone or something) to be equal to (another).
  6. (obsolete, poetic, transitive) To associate or go together with (someone or something); to become a partner of (someone or something).
    • Affection? thy Intention ſtabs the Center. / Thou do'ſt make poſſible things not ſo held, / Communicat'ſt vvith Dreames (hovv can this be?) / VVith vvhat's vnreall: thou coactiue art, / And fellow'ſt nothing.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
    • Some fevv there vvere left all to follovv Him: / Eſteeming all to baſe to fellovv Him: / And joyfully receiv'd Him as their Lord, / Deriving their ſalvation from his VVord, […]1628, I[oseph] F[letcher], “The Blessed Man, Setting-forth Mans Felicitie, in that His Regeneration is Procured”, in The Historie of the Perfect-Cursed-Blessed Man: […], London: […] M[iles] Flesher...
  7. (intransitive, obsolete, poetic) To associate or join with a someone or something in companionship or a partnership.
    • VVhere is the gentleman? 't vvas for his ſake / I vvould have lien vvith you, vvo'd it vvere as lavvfull to fellovv nights vvith him.a. 1633 (date written), Thomas Dekker, The Wonder of a Kingdome, London: […] Robert Raworth for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1636, →OCLC, Act IV

Also used as

fellow is also the alternative form of fella.

fellow meaning in Punjabi

fellow in Punjabi

ਸਾਥੀ

Examples of fellow in a sentence

  • And ſhe ſaid vnto her father [Jephthah], Let this thing be done for me: Let me alone two moneths, that I may goe vp and downe vpon the mountaines, and bewaile my virginitie, I, and my fellowes.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 11:37, column 1:
  • His fellows rescued him and beat the hangman.1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter VI, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume II, London: Longman, Brown...
  • Yet our imagined neighbor is insensitive to the need to engage her fellows in this way.2019, Anna Stilz, “Legitimacy and Self-determination”, in Territorial Sovereignty: A Philosophical Exploration, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford...
  • My fellow passengers are a mixture of people returning from a day out in the capital, locals doing short hops, and a few (like me) heading farther afield.2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My Weirdest and Wackiest Rover Yet”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page...

All 40 example sentences with fellow

Synonyms of fellow

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All synonyms of fellow

Forms of fellow

Noun
pluralfellows
Verb
third-person singular presentfellows
present participlefellowing
past participlefellowed
pastfellowed

Plural of fellow: fellows

Origin of fellow

From Middle English felawe, felowe (“companion, good friend”) from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, derived from félag (“joint venture; partnership”, literally “a laying together of property”), from fé (“livestock, property; money”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peḱ- (“livestock; wealth”)) + lag (“something laid down; right position; arrangement; companionship, fellowship; partnership”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie down”)). Cognates * Old Norse filaga, felaka (“partner”, accusative singular), from which the other terms are derived: * Danish fælle (“companion”) * Faroese felagi (“member; partner”) * Icelandic félagi (“companion, comrade, fellow; member; partner”) * Norwegian felle (“companion”) * Old Swedish fälaghi (modern Swedish felaga, felaha (“partner”, accusative singular)) * Scots falow, fallow, follow (“associate, companion, comrade”)

From Middle English felauen, felow (“to join (someone) in companionship, friendship, partnership, etc.”) [and other forms], from felowe, felau, felawe (noun): see etymology 1.

Words formed from fellow

Phrases with fellow

Words that rhyme with fellow

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Questions about fellow

What does fellow mean?
Fellow means a companion; a comrade.
What is fellow in Punjabi?
Fellow in Punjabi is ਸਾਥੀ. See Fellow meaning in Punjabi.
How do you use fellow in a sentence?
And ſhe ſaid vnto her father [Jephthah], Let this thing be done for me: Let me alone two moneths, that I may goe vp and downe vpon the mountaines, and bewaile my virginitie, I, and my fellowes.
What part of speech is fellow?
Fellow can be a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce fellow?
Fellow is pronounced /ˈfɛ.ləʊ/ (UK).
What is the plural of fellow?
The plural of fellow is fellows.

Words near fellow in the dictionary

  1. Fellner
  2. Fellners
  3. fellness
  4. felloe
  5. felloes
  6. fellow
  7. fellow citizen
  8. fellow feeling
  9. fellow feelings
  10. fellow man
  11. fellow me lad

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: fellow (page history and authors); fellow (Punjabi, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-fellow.ogg.

Cite this entry: “fellow.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/fellow. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.