- The definition of a fellow is a man or a boy, especially a boyfriend or lover. The definition of a fellow is also a peer who is doing the same activities as you, or a student or scholar doing research that is being paid for.
- A young boy is an example of a fellow.
- Your male lover is an example of your fellow.
- Your peers in your class are an example of your fellows.
- A member of an esteemed academic institution is an example of a fellow.
- A student who got a grant to do research on a subject is an example of a fellow.
- Obsolete a person who shares; partner or accomplice
- a companion; associate
- a person of the same class or rank; equal; peer
- either of a pair of corresponding things; mate
- a graduate student who holds a fellowship in a university or college
- a member of a learned society
- at some British and U.S. universities,
- a faculty member who is a member of the governing body
- a scholar, journalist, etc. who is appointed on a fellowship for a given period of research, teaching, or both
- a person of a lower social class
- a coarse, rough man
- a man or boy: often in familiar address
- a person; one: a fellow must eat
- Informal a suitor; beau
Origin of fellowMiddle English felaghe ; from Late Old English feolaga, partner ; from feoh (see fee) + laga, a laying down (see law), after Old Norse félagi: basic sense, “one laying down wealth for a joint undertaking”; fellowsenses , , , after Classical Latin socius: see associate
- having the same ideas, position, work, etc.
- in the same condition; associated: fellow workers
- a. A man or boy.b. Informal A boyfriend.
- A comrade or associate.
- a. A person of equal rank, position, or background; a peer.b. One of a pair; a mate: found the lost shoe and its fellow.
- A member of a learned society or professional organization.
- a. A graduate student appointed to a position granting financial aid and providing for further study.b. A physician who enters a training program in a medical specialty after completing residency, usually in a hospital or academic setting.
- Chiefly British a. An incorporated senior member of certain colleges and universities.b. A member of the governing body of certain colleges and universities.
- Archaic A man or boy held in low regard.
Origin of fellowMiddle English felau, from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse fēlagi, business partner, fellow, from fēlag, partnership : fē, property, money; see peku- in Indo-European roots + lag, a laying down; see legh- in Indo-European roots.
- (archaic) A companion; a comrade.
- A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man.
- An equal in power, rank, character, etc.
- One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each other; a mate.
- (colloquial) A male person; a man.
- (rare) A person; an individual, male or female.
- In the English universities, a scholar who is appointed to a foundation called a fellowship, which gives a title to certain perquisites and privileges.
- In an American college or university, a member of the corporation which manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a fellowship, who receives the income of the foundation.
- A member of a literary or scientific society; as, a Fellow of the Royal Society.
- The most senior rank or title one can achieve on a technical career in certain companies (though some fellows also hold business titles such as vice president or chief technology officer). This is typically found in large corporations in research and development-intensive industries (IBM or Sun Microsystems in information technology, and Boston Scientific in Medical Devices for example). They appoint a small number of senior scientists and engineers as Fellows.
- In the US and Canada, a physician who is undergoing a supervised, sub-specialty medical training (fellowship) after completing a specialty training program (residency).
In North America, fellow is generally only used as an academic or medical title or membership, and is dated and quite rare when referring to a man in general.
- Having common characteristics; being of the same kind, or in the same group
(third-person singular simple present fellows, present participle fellowing, simple past and past participle fellowed)
- Prefixed to a noun to say that someone shares the same condition as oneself as represented by the noun.
- fellow-worker; fellow-sufferer; fellow-teacher; fellow-chairwoman; fellow-Scotsman
- His call for action was supported by the majority of his fellow-students at the meeting.