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
| Community | Fellowship | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈfɛl.əʊ.ʃɪp//🇺🇸 //ˈfɛl.oʊ.ʃɪp// |
| Meaning | A group of people living in the same area or having similar interests. | A group of people who share common interests or goals. |
| Example | The community came together to clean the park. | The university offers a prestigious fellowship for graduate students. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | 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 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 faith | academic fellowship, professional fellowship, fellowship of friends, fellowship program, fellowship awards |
| Antonyms | isolation, loneliness | division, dissociation |
| Common mistakes | Confusing '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 notes | Use '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. |
See it in real clips
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.