Word
comrade
Phoneticscom·rade, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑmˌɹæd/
UK/kˈɒmɹeɪd/
Definitions
01a companion or colleague
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a friend or colleague who shares the same activities or difficulties as you.
n. a companion, associate, or fellow member of an organisation, often implying a shared struggle or professional bond.
“He felt a strong bond with his comrades from the years they spent working in the mines.”
“The veteran spoke movingly about his fallen comrades, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds formed during their years of service overseas.”
02political ally
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. a fellow member of a left-wing political party, such as a socialist or communist group.
n. a fellow member of a socialist or communist party; frequently used as a non-hierarchical title or form of address.
“The speaker addressed the crowd as 'comrades' to show they were all equal in the movement.”
“In the early twentieth century, party members would regularly address one another as 'comrade' to signal their shared commitment to revolutionary ideals.”
Usage
Often used as a title before a surname in political contexts.
Teaching tip
In many Western countries, using this word today sounds very political or historical; it is rarely used in casual conversation unless referring to specific political movements.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“US forces are set to pull out from their last bases in Iraq, leaving the country where 4,500 of their comrades died over more than 20 years of war.” “For a while she and her comrades evaded the authorities’ attention because they seemed like harmless old women, but when the government did try to close them down, they beat them off with sticks.” Etymology
From earlier cumrade, camrade, comerade, camerade, camarade, from Middle French camarade, from Spanish camarada or Italian camerata (“chamber mate”), from Medieval Latin *camarata, from Latin camara, camera (“vaulted room, chamber”); see chamber. Compare camaraderie and chamberlain.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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