fellow
noun
fel·low ˈfe-(ˌ)lō 
often attributive
1
: comrade, associate
was eager to rejoin his fellows
2
a
: an equal in rank, power, or character : peer
discussions among a group of fellows from the nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory
Roger Lewin
Roger Lewin b
: one of a pair : mate
3
: a member of a group having common characteristics
specifically : a member of an incorporated literary or scientific society
a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
4
a
obsolete : a person of one of the lower social classes
b
archaic : a worthless man or boy
c
: man, boy
He seems like a fine fellow.
d
: boyfriend, beau
She and her fellow went to the movies.
5
: an incorporated member of a college or collegiate foundation especially in a British university
6
: a person appointed to a position granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research
Did you know?
The Old Norse word for a partner, felagi, means literally “one who puts down property.” Such people were those who laid together their property for some common purpose. Old English borrowed felagi from Old Norse and called a partner a feolaga. This word has come down to us, through several centuries and the development of a number of senses, as modern English fellow. Perhaps its most common use today is its very general one, in which it is applied to any boy or man.
Synonyms
- beau
- boy
- boyfriend
- man
- old man
- swain
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
fellows and girls at a party a young fellow like you Your son's a bright little fellow. She's found herself a new fellow. a fellow of the American College of Surgeons a Fellow of the Royal Society See More
Recent Examples on the Web Conners, who owns Orland Hearing Aid Center at 12910 S. LaGrange Road in Palos Park, is a member of the Speech, language & Hearing Association and a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Terry was a character, quick with a joke, relentless in fabricating wonderful stories, and a terrific fellow for a young person to hang with. Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 There are screenings, of course, and an auction, and a fellow from Chicago named Dennis Scott comes up to play a theater organ. Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Instead, police said, the driver sped off and someone fired a shot, accidentally hitting his fellow would-be carjacker. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 Galpin is now a law student at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and a former legal fellow with the National LGBTQ Task Force, a social justice non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ rights. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Andrew Wickline is an orthopedic surgeon in Utica, New York, and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Andrew Wickline, STAT, 27 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Larson’s younger sister, Hannah Larson, is also a mathematician — currently a Clay fellow after earning her doctorate from Stanford University this spring — working on related questions about algebraic curves and Brill-Noether theory. Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 The incidents could have been staged or exploited by Russian officials to generate panic and prime the population for future moves related to the Ukraine invasion, said John Lough, associate fellow with Chatham House, a British think tank. Ian Lovett, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Terry was a character, quick with a joke, relentless in fabricating wonderful stories, and a terrific fellow for a young person to hang with. Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 There are screenings, of course, and an auction, and a fellow from Chicago named Dennis Scott comes up to play a theater organ. Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Instead, police said, the driver sped off and someone fired a shot, accidentally hitting his fellow would-be carjacker. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 Galpin is now a law student at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and a former legal fellow with the National LGBTQ Task Force, a social justice non-profit that advocates for LGBTQ rights. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Andrew Wickline is an orthopedic surgeon in Utica, New York, and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Andrew Wickline, STAT, 27 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Larson’s younger sister, Hannah Larson, is also a mathematician — currently a Clay fellow after earning her doctorate from Stanford University this spring — working on related questions about algebraic curves and Brill-Noether theory. Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 25 Aug. 2022 The incidents could have been staged or exploited by Russian officials to generate panic and prime the population for future moves related to the Ukraine invasion, said John Lough, associate fellow with Chatham House, a British think tank. Ian Lovett, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English felawe, from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse fēlagi, from fēlag partnership, from fē cattle, money + lag act of laying
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing fellow
Kids Definition
fellow 1 of 2
noun
fel·low ˈfe-lō
1
: a male person
2
: companion sense 1, comrade
fellow
2 of 2adjective
: belonging to the same group or class
my fellow Americans
Medical Definition
fellow
noun
fel·low
ˈfel-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
: a young physician who has completed training as an intern and resident and has been granted a stipend and position allowing him or her to do further study or research in a specialty
fellow
noun
1
as in boyfriend
a male romantic companion most of the players were bringing their fellows to the banquet in the clubhouse after the tennis tournament Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- boyfriend
- beau
- boy
- husband
- man
- swain
- lover
- dear
- beloved
- old man
- admirer
- sweetie
- favorite
- darling
- gallant
- sweetheart
- crush
- sweet
- suitor
- steady
- flame
- groom
- wooer
- fiancé
- love
- escort
- valentine
- spark
- honey
- soul mate
- intended
- sparker
- gigolo
- date
- significant other
- sweetie pie
- squeeze
- fancy man
2
as in associate
a person frequently seen in the company of another the singer's fellows were rumored to have ties to organized crime Synonyms & Similar Words
- associate
- colleague
- friend
- buddy
- comrade
- compatriot
- accomplice
- cohort
- peer
- classmate
- companion
- teammate
- partner
- compeer
- mate
- crony
- pal
- collaborator
- running mate
- coworker
- hobnobber
- chum
- ally
- confidant
- countryman
- workmate
- affiliate
- familiar
- shipmate
- confederate
- equal
- roommate
- half
- hearty
- housemate
- schoolmate
- playmate
- messmate
- intimate
- attendant
- playfellow
- escort
- roomie
- hanger-on
- parasite
- leech
3
as in male
an adult male human being what does a fellow have to do to get waited on around here? your son is a bright young fellow Synonyms & Similar Words
- male
- guy
- gentleman
- dude
- fella
- man
- gent
- lad
- bloke
- joe
- cat
- bastard
- chap
- chappie
- galoot
- buddy
- hombre
- mister
- buck
- sir
- joker
- master
- jack
- buster
4
as in half
either of a pair matched in one or more qualities one ice skate isn't much good without its fellow Synonyms & Similar Words
- half
- companion
- twin
- mate
- match
- like
- similarity
- equivalent
- counterpart
- peer
- replica
- rival
- coordinate
- double
- parallel
- analog
- equal
- coequal
- identical twin
- likeness
- analogue
- ringer
- mirror image
- duplicate
- carbon copy
- facsimile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- converse
- contrary
- opposite
- antithesis
- reverse
- antipode
5
as in colleague
one that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value he is well regarded as a chemist by his fellows in the field Synonyms & Similar Words
- colleague
- equivalent
- counterpart
- partner
- peer
- like
- rival
- companion
- equal
- compeer
- coordinate
- competitor
- parallel
- associate
- coequal
- mate
- match
- twin
- double
- analogue
- half
- analog
- copartner
Phrases Containing fellow
- take one's chances
- take one's cue from
- take one's ease
- take one's eyes off
- take one's hat off to
- take one's kit off
- take one's leave
- take one's licks
- take one's lumps
- take one's marks
- take one's medicine
- take one's mind off
- take one's name from
- take one's own life
- take one's own sweet time
- take one's pick
- take one's place
- take one's revenge
- take one's seat
- take one's sweet time
- take one's time
- take out
- take out a contract on
- take out a patent on
- take out insurance on