What does "fellowship" mean?

1. (friendship and connection) a feeling of friendship and shared experience between people. 2. (an association or group) a group of people who join together because they share the same goals or beliefs. 3. (academic position) a position at a university that pays a person to do research or study a specific subject. 4. (medical training) a period of advanced medical training for a doctor who has already finished their basic training. 5. (to spend time together) to spend time with other people in a friendly way, especially in a church group.

How do you use "fellowship"?

Often used as an intransitive verb in American church communities.

fellowship

n. · v.

US //ˈfɛɫoʊˌʃɪp// UK //fˈɛləʊʃˌɪp// fel·low·ship

1 friendship and connection (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a feeling of friendship and shared experience between people.

the state of sharing mutual interests, experiences, or feelings of camaraderie.

Example

The hikers enjoyed a sense of fellowship as they sat around the campfire.

Example

The shared hardships of the expedition forged a deep fellowship among the crew members that lasted long after their return.
- isolation
- enmity
2 an association or group (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a group of people who join together because they share the same goals or beliefs.

an association or company of people sharing a common interest, activity, or purpose.

Example

He was invited to join a local fellowship of poets and writers.

Example

The religious fellowship provided both spiritual guidance and a robust social network for the new immigrants in the city.

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3 academic position (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal Science

a position at a university that pays a person to do research or study a specific subject.

a merit-based position at an academic institution, often providing a stipend for research with minimal teaching obligations.

Example

She was awarded a prestigious fellowship to study ancient history in Rome.

Example

After completing his doctorate, he secured a three-year research fellowship to investigate the long-term effects of climate change on alpine flora.
4 medical training (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

a period of advanced medical training for a doctor who has already finished their basic training.

a period of supervised, sub-specialty medical training undertaken by a physician after completing a residency.

Example

The surgeon is currently doing a fellowship in pediatric heart surgery.

Example

The hospital offers several competitive fellowships for residents wishing to specialize in interventional radiology or oncology.
5 to spend time together (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal American English Religion

to spend time with other people in a friendly way, especially in a church group.

to join in communal activities or build cordial relationships, primarily within a religious context.

Example

The members stayed after the service to fellowship over coffee and cake.

Example

The congregation was encouraged to fellowship with one another during the annual retreat to strengthen their communal bonds.

Usage

Often used as an intransitive verb in American church communities.
- socialize
- associate
- exclude
- shun

Origin

From Middle English felowschipe, felawshipe, felaȝschyp, equivalent to fellow + -ship; or perhaps adapted from Old Norse félagskapr, félagsskapr (“fellowship”). Compare Icelandic félagsskapur (“companionship, company, community”), Danish fællesskab (“fellowship”), Norwegian fellesskap (“fellowship”), and Old Swedish fælaghskap (“fellowship”)