Community vs Fellowship

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Community

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

Fellowship

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Community
 CommunityFellowship
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈfɛl.əʊ.ʃɪp//🇺🇸 //ˈfɛl.oʊ.ʃɪp//
MeaningA group of people living in the same area or having similar interests.A group of people who share common interests or goals.
ExampleThe community came together to clean the park.The university offers a prestigious fellowship for graduate students.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationslarge, small, close, service, work, policing, in a/​the community, within a/​the community, the community as a whole, the community at large, a/​the community of faith, large, small, close, service, work, policing, in a/​the community, within a/​the community, the community as a whole, the community at large, a/​the community of faithacademic fellowship, professional fellowship, fellowship of friends, fellowship program, fellowship awards
Antonymsisolation, lonelinessdivision, dissociation
Common mistakesConfusing 'community' with 'society' — 'society' is broader., Using 'communities' in contexts where 'community' is needed., Not knowing how to describe different types, like 'online community' or 'local community'.'Fellowship' confused with 'friendship' — they are not the same., Using it to describe casual friendships rather than formal groups., Incorrectly assuming it's only a religious term.
Usage notesUse 'community' to refer to a group that shares something in common, such as location or interest. It's appropriate in most contexts but can sound too formal in casual conversations.Commonly used in academic, religious, and professional contexts to describe communities or groups. Not typically used in casual conversations.

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Community
Fellowship

Frequently asked questions: Community vs Fellowship

What's the difference between Community and Fellowship?

Community: A group of people living in the same area or having similar interests. Fellowship: A group of people who share common interests or goals.

Which is more common: Community and Fellowship?

Community is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Community: The community came together to clean the park. Fellowship: The university offers a prestigious fellowship for graduate students.

Can I use Community and Fellowship interchangeably?

Not always. Community and Fellowship are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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