English Reference
noun · verb

fellowship

n. · v.
US /ˈfɛɫoʊˌʃɪp/ UK /fˈɛləʊʃˌɪp/ fel·low·ship UK spelling fellowship's, fellowship's, fellowshiped, fellowshiping, fellowshipped, fellowshipping

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a feeling of friendship and shared experience between people.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    The shared hardships of the expedition forged a deep fellowship among the crew members that lasted long after their return.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal Science

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    After completing his doctorate, he secured a three-year research fellowship to investigate the long-term effects of climate change on alpine flora.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    The hospital offers several competitive fellowships for residents wishing to specialize in interventional radiology or oncology.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency FormalAmerican English Religion

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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.

Berté was granted a Science Without Borders Fellowship to pursue a PhD at the Imperial College London (UK) where a journey in nanophotonics started.

Phys.org· 14 Aug 2026

Additional support was provided by the Alzheimer's Association, the Global Brain Health Institute, the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, Alzheimer's Society UK, FONDECYT and the Ramón y Cajal fellowship through the Spanish State Research Agency.

ScienceDaily· 22 Aug 2026

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”)

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin non félagskapr
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated