Word
groupie
US/ˈɡɹupi/
UK/ɡɹˈuːpi/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a super-fan who follows a band or singer around on tour, hoping to meet them in person. You use it for someone more obsessed than a normal fan.
n. a devoted follower of a musician, band, or public figure who travels to performances in pursuit of proximity or personal contact.
Examples
“The groupie follows the band to every show.”
“After the concert, security stops several groupies from entering the backstage area.”
“The documentary follows aging groupies who traded stable lives for years on the road, reflecting on fame, loyalty, and what remains when the tour ends.”
Examples
simple
“The groupie follows the band to every show.”
contextual
“After the concert, security stops several groupies from entering the backstage area.”
complex
“The documentary follows aging groupies who traded stable lives for years on the road, reflecting on fame, loyalty, and what remains when the tour ends.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “groupie” in context.
Verb
01. attract groupie
“After one hit single, the band began to attract groupies at every show.”
verb + noun
02. dismiss as groupie
“Security dismissed her as a groupie and refused to let her backstage.”
verb + prep + noun
03. groupie follows
“A loyal groupie follows the band from city to city every summer.”
noun + verb
04. groupie waits
“A groupie waits for hours by the stage door just for a photo.”
noun + verb
05. interview groupie
“The podcast interviewed a former groupie about life on tour in the 70s.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. hardcore groupie
“The film interviews a hardcore groupie who joined the whole tour.”
adj + noun
07. obsessed groupie
“He called her an obsessed groupie who followed the band everywhere.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. groupie culture
“The film explores groupie culture and the dark side of fame.”
noun + noun
09. a teenage rock groupie
“She started out as a teenage rock groupie in the 1990s.”
10. dismiss someone as a groupie
“Don't dismiss her as a groupie; she is a serious music journalist.”
11. like a lovesick groupie
“He waited outside her hotel like a lovesick groupie.”
12. mobbed by screaming groupies
“The band was mobbed by screaming groupies after the concert.”
Real-World Examples
“You get comments like 'either you're the girlfriend or the groupie', 'you're a fangirl', 'you're only there to get closer to the bands', obviously for some sort of sexual relationship.” Etymology
From group + -ie (“person associated”). In the fan sense, from 1967.
From group + -ie (“photograph”), by analogy with selfie, 2010s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/groupie