What does "comrade" mean?

1. (a companion or colleague) a friend or colleague who shares the same activities or difficulties as you. 2. (political ally) a fellow member of a left-wing political party, such as a socialist or communist group.

How do you use "comrade"?

Often used as a title before a surname in political contexts.

comrade

US //ˈkɑmˌɹæd// UK //kˈɒmɹeɪd// com·rade

1 a companion or colleague (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a friend or colleague who shares the same activities or difficulties as you.

a companion, associate, or fellow member of an organisation, often implying a shared struggle or professional bond.

Example

He felt a strong bond with his comrades from the years they spent working in the mines.

Example

The veteran spoke movingly about his fallen comrades, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds formed during their years of service overseas.
- enemy
- rival
2 political ally (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

a fellow member of a left-wing political party, such as a socialist or communist group.

a fellow member of a socialist or communist party; frequently used as a non-hierarchical title or form of address.

Example

The speaker addressed the crowd as 'comrades' to show they were all equal in the movement.

Example

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.

Teacher's 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.
- ally
- fellow traveller

Origin

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.