# fellow

/ˈfɛɫoʊ/ (US) · /fˈɛləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fellow
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a man or boy

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a way to refer to a man or boy. You might use this to be polite, slightly old-fashioned, or friendly.

For teachers: a male person; used as a synonym for 'man', 'guy', or 'chap'. Often carries a slightly formal or old-fashioned tone depending on the region.

- He seems like a very kind young fellow who is always willing to help.
- The elderly fellow at the corner shop has been a fixture of this neighbourhood for over forty years.

### 2. sharing a status

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe people who are in the same situation as you or share your job.

For teachers: denoting a person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated with the speaker or subject.

- She wanted to discuss the new rules with her fellow students after class.
- The lead researcher urged his fellow scientists to remain objective despite the surprising preliminary results of the clinical trial.

### 3. academic member

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a member of a university or a group of learned people who do research together.

For teachers: a member of a learned society or a senior member of a college or university, often involved in research or teaching.

- She was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society for her work in physics.
- After completing his doctorate, he was invited to stay on as a research fellow to continue his investigation into renewable energy.

### 4. companion or peer

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person who is your companion or someone who is equal to you in rank.

For teachers: a companion, comrade, or peer; one who belongs to the same class or group as another.

- He felt a deep connection to his fellows who had survived the long journey.
- The poet wrote extensively about the shared struggles of his fellows during the industrial revolution.

### 5. matching item

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

one of a pair of things that match or go together.

For teachers: one of a pair of matching or complementary objects; a counterpart.

- I found one glove in the drawer, but I cannot find its fellow anywhere.
- The antique vase was missing its fellow, which had reportedly been lost during the family's move across the Atlantic.

## Examples

- He seems like a very nice fellow.
- The young fellow at the front desk helped us find a great local restaurant for dinner.
- While he was a brilliant scholar, he was also a jolly fellow who enjoyed hosting large dinner parties for his colleagues and students.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.