English Reference
Adjective

gregarious

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ɡɹəˈɡɛɹiəs/ UK /ɡɹɛɡˈeəɹɪəs/ gre·gar·i·ous Botany Zoology

adj.describing a plant or animal that grows or lives in groups. It can also describe a person who enjoys being around other people.

adj.relating to or characteristic of a species that lives or grows in groups. In a botanical context, it describes plants that grow in clusters or colonies.


SIMPLE

The gregarious plants grow in thick clusters along the riverbank.

CONTEXTUAL

The botanist noted that the gregarious species thrived in the moist, shaded environment of the forest floor.

COMPLEX

While some species prefer solitary habitats, gregarious organisms often benefit from collective defense mechanisms and shared resources, which can significantly increase their survival rates in competitive ecosystems.

However, I’m pretty sure his irascibility will be mellowed by the “dog park divas”, an eccentric band of gregarious day drinkers.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

He was a quieter presence, while Geldzahler was famously “gregarious and witty,” according to Hockney biographer Christopher Simon Sykes .

Smithsonian Magazine· 17 Jun 2026

First attested in 1688; borrowed from Latin gregārius, see -ious.

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated