I am working on a project that involves bringing people together who share common goals or dreams. Is there a word or phrase to describe groups of people who are working together to accomplish these common aspirations? People have suggested terms like «Dreamers», or «Goal-setters», but I am preferably looking for something a little more catchy.
Or are there any words/phrases that describe a person who accomplishes their goals. Perhaps then, I can then just pluralize that term.
Matt E. Эллен
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asked Mar 22, 2014 at 21:24
1
There are several words that means a group of people with a common interest/purpose/goal/aim etc. These words might depend on the context as well:
union: a number of persons, states, etc., joined or associated together for some common purpose: student union; credit union.
coalition: an alliance or union between groups, factions, or parties, esp for some temporary and specific reason
league: An association of states, organizations, or individuals for common action; an alliance.
coterie: a small exclusive group of friends or people with common interests; clique
association: a group of people who have joined together because they have similar interests or aims
club: an organization for people who have a common interest in a particular activity or subject
For the second question:
effector — one who brings about a result or event; one who accomplishes a purpose
answered Mar 23, 2014 at 1:07
ermanenermanen
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1
The name by which they are mostly known in Britain is ‘interest groups’, i.e.groups pursuing a common interest.
Sometimes these are charities e.g Alzheimers Trust, Cancer Research UK, NSPCC (National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children), Save the Children, Oxfam etc.
But included in ‘interest groups’ are people who campaign on behalf of people who may consider they have suffered a common injustice, such as ‘The Liverpool 96’, or with a common aim in view e.g. for gay marriage, or against excessive press intrusion of people’s private lives etc.
A more informal phrase for ‘interest group’ is ‘pressure group’.
answered Mar 22, 2014 at 22:08
WS2WS2
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2
People working on developing and using Linux call themselves a Linux community. In France, people using or developing Free, use term «Freenauts» like «astronauts». There is some connotation of union in some form, I guess.
There was an idea of «venture» in a book I read long ago, but it implies pursuing the idea (purpose), gambling even, not achieving it («nothing ventured, nothing gained»)
answered Mar 22, 2014 at 22:22
1
What about taskforce? That implies a group with a common goal. Also club and organization (or organisation if you happen to be British) will work.
answered Mar 22, 2014 at 22:25
Brian J. FinkBrian J. Fink
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Why not simply «team»?
Florian
answered Mar 23, 2014 at 0:22
1
List of Collective Nouns for People 👬🏽👫👭🏻👨👩👧👦 & Professions 👨⚕️👩⚕️
ADDucation’s list of collective nouns for people (also know as collective terms and terms of venery for people) can never be definitive but it’s fun. A “collective noun” refers to “plural-only” words, e.g. people for person. “The Book of St Albans“, published around 1500, included the first list of collective nouns for people. It was based on folklore, humor and the whim of the publisher – just like our list! Share your suggestions and comments below…
- ADDucation’s list of collective nouns for people was compiled by Joe Connor and last updated on Jan 14, 2023 @ 10:42 am
ADDucation Tips: Click column headings with arrows to sort collective nouns for people. Reload page for original sort order. Resize your browser to full screen and/or zoom out to display as many columns as possible. Click the ➕ icon to reveal any hidden columns. Start typing in the Filter table box to find collective nouns for a group of people, co-workers, colleagues, friends etc.
| Human Group 👨👩👧👦 | Singular | Collective Nouns for People | Collective terms | Explanation & Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actors 🎭 |
Actor | A cast of actors | cast, company | Cast, originally the “act of throwing”, was used from 1711 used to describe giving out parts in a play to actors. |
| Artistes | Artist | A troupe of artistes | troupe | From French “troupe” meaning “company” or “troop” referring to a band of performing artistes including acrobats, singers, dancers, gymnasts, minstrels etc. |
| Boys |
Boy 👦🏻 | A rascal of boys | rascal | Fun collective term for boys gathered in groups, gangs, teams, etc. |
| Butlers | Butler | A draught of butlers | draught | A butler’s duties include looking after wines and liquor stored in the “buttery” (a room) by taking regular draughts to test for taste and quality. |
| Crooks | Crook | A bunch of crooks | bunch | A crook is a bent “crooked” hook. Originally used to describe criminal activity it’s now commonly applied to politicians, corporations and governments worldwide. Bunch is one of the most commonly used collective nouns for people. |
| Directors | Director | A board of directors | board | The board is the “table where council is held” by the “directors” (guides) from French “directeur” and earlier Latin “dirigere”. |
| Employees | Employee | A staff of employees | staff | Commonly used for office and hospital staff, possibly derived from a staff (baton) used as a badge of office or authority or using a staff as a support. |
| Experts | Expert | A panel of experts | panel | From French “panel” and earlier Latin “pannellus” (piece of cloth) which became legalese term for “piece of parchment listing jurors” leading to the general sense of people called on to discuss, advise and judge. |
| Fishermen | Fisherman | A drift of fishermen | drift, sulk, grumble | These collective terms for fishermen suggest they’re not the happiest group of people! |
| Guests | Guest | A cohort of guests | cohort | Used in tourism reports, business reports and in legal documents. Cohort is one of the most widely used collective nouns for people. |
| Husbands | Husband | An unhappiness of husbands |
unhappiness | If you have any positive collective noun for husbands or relationships in general please share them! |
| Judges | Judge 👨🏽⚖️ | A bench of judges | bench | Judges originally sat on long benches when presiding over a court. As a collective term bench is also used to describe magistrates, bishops and aldermen. |
| Jurors | Jury | A damning of jurors | damning | The right to a trial by jury was included in the Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215. A plaintiff found guilty was a “damning” verdict, from the Latin word “damnāre” to condemn which left the plaintiff liable to eternal damnation. |
| Listeners | Listener | An audience of listeners | audience | Originally a gathering of people within hearing range. Derived from French “audience” (the action of hearing) and earlier Latin “audentia” (a hearing, listening) and has since been extended to include book readers, radio and TV show audiences. |
| Millennials | Millennial | A marketing campaign or cast | marketing campaign | Most marketing campaigns, and acting casts, featuring a group of millennials cover the LGBT+ spectrum. |
| Mourners | Mourner | A cortege of mourners | cortege | The procession of mourners and vehicles moving slowly towards a funeral is called a cortege (from the french cortège, meaning “train of attendents”. |
| Musicians | Musician | A band of musicians | band | Bands of cloth are worn as a mark of identification by organized groups, typically solders. Groups of musicians were originally attached to army regiments. Bands is one of the most widely used collective nouns for people. |
| Nuns | Nun | A superfluity of nuns | superfluity, convent, murmur | Superfluity means excessive and English nunneries were overcrowded as nobles offloaded their daughters past marriageable age which led to pressure for church reform. During the Protestant reformation Henry VIII ordered the closure of convents and monasteries. |
| Painters 👩🏻🎨 |
Painter | A misbelief of painters or misbelief of artists |
misbelief | Used specifically to describe portrait painters who had to strike a balance between flattering their patrons and painting a realistic portrait – which could easily be extended to a misbelief of Photoshop users and digital artists today! It was the artists ability to create an illusion of beauty which led to misbelief in those viewing the portrait. |
| Pardoners | Priest or Friar | A lying of pardoners | lying | “Pardoners” claimed to cleanse people of their sins offering absolution for a fee. Fraudsters led to charges of “lying pardoners” in City of London records. |
| People | Person | A crowd of people | crowd | People from French “peupel” (people, population, crowd; mankind, humanity) and earlier Latin populus (a multitude, crowd, throng) gathering together. Perhaps the best known term of venery for people. |
| Player | Players | A squad of players | squad | Sports teams are often referred to as squads. |
| Policemen | Policeman 👮🏽 | A posse of policemen | posse | Presumably from sheriffs, posse can be applied to any group of people with a common occupation or characteristic. |
| Policemen | Policeman | A squad of police officers | squad | Squad is also commonly applied to soldiers. One of the most commonly known collective nouns for people. |
| Professors | Professor | in the professoriate | professoriate | Collective term for a group of academic professors, typically in universities. |
| Sailors | Sailor | A crew of sailors | sailors | From French “crue” (group of soldiers) through “gang of men on a warship” to “people acting or working together” not just on warships. |
| Servants | Servant | An obedience of servants | servants | In servitude obedience was expected and masters were demanding, often with cruel punishment for broken rules. |
| Sheriffs | Sheriff | A posse of sheriffs | posse | From the wild west days “a body of men summoned by a sheriff to enforce the law”. |
| Singers | Singer 🧑🎤 | A choir of singers | choir | From Latin “choir” (band of singers). |
| Soldiers | Soldier | An army of soldiers | army | From French “armée” (armed troop) and earlier Latin “armata” (armed force) originally used for sea and land expeditions the term is now applies specifically to land forces. |
| Soldiers | Soldier | A regiment of soldiers | regiment | Units organized systematically by being “regimented’ from the old French “regiment” (government, rule) and earlier Latin “regimentum” and “regere (to rule). |
| Soldiers | Soldier | A platoon of soldiers | platoon | One of many collective terms applied to servicemen and servicewomen including company, division, unit etc. Platoon is from the French “peloton”, a small ball. |
| Soldiers | Soldier | A squad of soldiers | squad | A squad is a also a popular collective term for policemen and one of the widely used collective nouns for people. |
| Soldiers | Soldier | A troop of soldiers | troop | Also used in the scouting movement, e.g. a scout troop. From the French troupe or Germanic/Frankish origin “thorp” for an assembly or gathering. |
| Students | Student | A cohort of students | cohort | “Student cohort” is commonly used in educational circles when referring to a year group. See also a “class” of students. |
| Pupils | Pupil | A class of pupils | class | Groups of students are often described as pupils and could also be described as a cohort of pupils. |
| Tapsters | Tapster | A promise of tapsters | promise | A “tapster” is an outdated term for a barman/barmaid (who looks after the “taps”) and their promise with a nod, eye contact or other acknowledgement that you’re next to be served – which may well turn out to be a false promise! Shakespeare’s Celia and Rosalind in “As You Like It” reflect on this “… the oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster.” |
| Teachers | Teacher | A faculty of teachers | faculty | Educational institutions are often divided into faculties and teachers are faculty members. |
| Tourists | Tourist | A flock of tourists | flock | From Old English “flocc” (crowd). |
| Visitors | Visitor | A cohort of visitors | cohort | Used in business reports and in legal documents. |
| Witches | Witch 🧙♀️ | A coven of witches |
coven | Originally a gathering or assembly of witches until coven was first coined during the 1660’s. Popularized in “Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft” written by Sir Walter Scott and published in 1830. |
| Wives | Wife | An impatience of wives |
impatience | For some reason collective nouns for partners are generally negative! |
| Women 👩🏻🤝👩🏼 |
Woman | A gaggle of women or a bevy of ladies | gaggle, bevy | Gaggle shared with geese and the chit-chat noise they make. A bevy of ladies also isn’t a flattering portrayal of women in todays world. Ladies, please share your best collective terms for men! |
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Who Decides Collective Nouns?
There’s no official collective nouns dictionary, committee, or authority, which approves new collective nouns. ADDucation’t list is focused on collective names for groups of people which have an interesting history or references in literature but there’s nothing to stop you, us, or anyone else, coming up with new collective nouns and seeing if they gain popularity or go viral in future lists of collective nouns.
ADDucation Lists Related to Collective Nouns for People:
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А вы знаете, как по-английски называются различные группы людей? Например, музыкальная группа, или команда, или экипаж, или театральная труппа? Предлагаем вам лексический текст на эту тему.
Тест взят из материалов конкурса «British Bulldog».
Groups of people
1. The actors in a play, film, or television show.
A) Audience
B) Cast
C) Council
D) Team
2. The group of people who operate a ship or an airplane.
A) Team
B) Group
C) Staff
D) Crew
3. The people who attend a performance.
A) Troupe
B) Gang
C) Group
D) Audience
4. A group of people who work for an organisation or business.
A) Staff
B) Band
C) Cast
D) Gang
5. A group of theatrical performers.
A) Council
B) Team
C) Onlookers
D) Troupe
6. A group of instrumentalists playing music.
A) Staff
B) Team
C) Cast
D) Band
7. A group of students who meet to be taught a subject.
A) Crew
B) Classroom
C) Class
D) Staff
8. A group of soldiers.
A) Class
B) Troop
C) Troupe
D) Team
9. A group of people who are to make rules and laws.
A) Spectators
B) Onlookers
C) Council
D) Band
10. A group of criminals.
A) Gang
B) Class
C) Onlookers
D) Crew
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#1
Hi,
Which pronoun should I use in this (silly) example?
That group of men, who were (related to men) standing at the counter having a beer, came from London.
That group of men, which was standing (related to group) at the counter having a beer, came from London.
-
#2
Hi,
Which pronoun should I use in this (silly) example?
That group of men, who were (related to men) standing at the counter having a beer, came from London.
That group of men, which was standing (related to group) at the counter having a beer, came from London.
In my experience, «group» may be either singular or plural, depending on whether one is speaking of the group as an entity with some sort of reason for being or as a collection of members. In the second version, I found myself envisioning a group standing at a bar passing around a single beer, in furtherence of some purpose of the group.
This is silly, of course, but it suggests that the second sentence is not really about the group as an entity, but as a collection of individuals. Therefore, I think only the first sentence works. In fact, in this context, I’d say,
«That group, who were standing at the counter having a beer, came from London.»
Of course, it’s been a long time since I studied English grammar, and there may be a rule about this of which I’m unaware.
-
#3
As long as I know, which is for things,who for people and that for both
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#4
Old Novice is correct; it should be, «that group of men, who were (related to men) standing at the counter».
-
#5
Maybe this is the type of quandary that leads people to start leaving words out: That group of men, standing at the counter having a beer, came from London.
Elisabetta
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#6
So you’d consider group as an entity and therefore you’d use a plural verb..but why Who rather than which?
-
#7
about what TrentinaNE said, is called reduced clauses
-
#8
Maybe this is the type of quandary that leads people to start leaving words out: That group of men, standing at the counter having a beer, came from London.
Elisabetta
Sure, that’s the best solution, but I’ve just invented that silly example to work the who/which — singular/plural issue out, knowing that it doesn’t flow naturally at all ..
-
#9
So you’d consider group as an entity and therefore you’d use a plural verb..but why Who rather than which?
I suppose that «which» could be grammatically correct but the common relative pronoun for a group of human beings is «who». In my ?? years of speaking English I have never heard anyone say «the group of men/women/people which …»
Saluti amicali,
Brian
-
#10
I suppose that «which» could be grammatically correct but the common relative pronoun for a group of human beings is «who». In my ?? years of speaking English I have never heard anyone say «the group of men/women/people which …»
Cordiali Saluti
amicali,
Brian
Thanks Brian
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#11
I suppose that «which» could be grammatically correct but the common relative pronoun for a group of human beings is «who». In my ?? years of speaking English I have never heard anyone say «the group of men/women/people which …»
Saluti amicali,
Brian
I agree when speaking of «a group of men». But what about speaking just about «the group»? For example, both of the following sound fine to me:
«The group that claimed responsibility is called X.»
and
«The group X, which claimed responsibility, was formed in 1974.»
In this case, the focus is on the group as an entity, and I think the impersonal «which» or «that» works well.
-
#12
Perhaps the following examples would be useful in helping to work out the singular/plural issue:
Where is/are the group of men?
The group of men is/are here.
For me «is» is required in the first example, but the second example is not as clear.
Now here’s another question. If «group» has to take a singular verb, but also has to take the relative pronoun «who» because it’s a group of people, does that mean we end up with:
That group of men, who was standing at the counter …
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#13
Perhaps the following examples would be useful in helping to work out the singular/plural issue:
Where is/are the group of men?
The group of men is/are here.For me «is» is required in the first example, but the second example is not as clear.
Now here’s another question. If «group» has to take a singular verb, but also has to take the relative pronoun «who» because it’s a group of people, does that mean we end up with:
That group of men, who was standing at the counter …
I now wonder if «group of men» can take the singular form if we think of it as distinguished from another group?
«The group of men is here. The group of women is over there.»
In such a case, I would use «which» rather than who:
«The group of men, which was standing at the bar, ignored the group of women.»
But it gets harder:
«The group of men, which was standing at the bar, disturbed the group of women with their noise.»
«Its noise» sounds wrong, but the rest of the sentence sounds OK. So either I just have an eccentric ear for such things [very possible], or we are into an area in which it is hard to state absolute rules.
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#14
«The group of men, which was standing at the bar, disturbed the group of women with their noise.»
«Its noise» sounds wrong, but the rest of the sentence sounds OK.
huh…If «The group of men, which was standing at the bar» sounds ok to you, it means I still haven’t understood the whole issue…
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#15
huh…If «The group of men, which was standing at the bar» sounds ok to you, it means I still haven’t understood the whole issue…
I was surprised, too, and maybe others will disagree with me. I raised the possibility only because it seemed to make sense in the context in which «of men» distinguished the group from another. How about this:
«The engineering group was at the bar. The marketing group took seats at tables.»
«The engineering group, which was at the bar, was noisy and disturbed the marketing group.»
I see nothing in the above sentences that bothers me at all. So if I replace «engineering» with «of men» and «marketing» with «of women», should everything change? Maybe, but maybe not, too. That’s the idea I was trying to get across.
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#16
it seems that you can use who and which for plural subjects.. even if they are people.. try google
«the group of people who are»
«the group of people which are»
also about snowman said… it should be this way:
the group is
the group of people is/are
should i trust in google?
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#17
I was surprised, too, and maybe others will disagree with me. I raised the possibility only because it seemed to make sense in the context in which «of men» distinguished the group from another. How about this:
«The engineering group was at the bar. The marketing group took seats at tables.»
«The engineering group, which was at the bar, was noisy and disturbed the marketing group.»
I see nothing in the above sentences that bothers me at all. So if I replace «engineering» with «of men» and «marketing» with «of women», should everything change? Maybe, but maybe not, too. That’s the idea I was trying to get across.
I can see nothing wrong with these examples like ‘the engineering group’ but it just sounds awful to me to say ‘the group of men which was’ because, I suppose, I can not disassociate the men and the group and regard them as a ‘gaggle of individual men’ and men being plural requires a plural verb.
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#18
As the coversation is wandering gently off the question of who or which and onto the question of group, singular or plural, it’s time to include a link to
A group of people + singular/plural?
The collective nouns that seem singular take which.
Those that seem plural take who.
So if a group of men seems plural, it takes who and a plural verb — and we don’t have to say That group of men, who was standing at the counter … — which is a great relief to me
It’s strange that the engineering group seems singular most of the time.
A group of men seems plural, except when it doesn’t.
The length of the thread I linked to, and the other threads it provides links to, are evidence of the difficulty, or perhaps I might say impossibility, of finding set of guidelines for this topic.
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#19
The collective nouns that seem singular take which.
Those that seem plural take who.
Thanks.
Seeing as it seems to be no solution to this issue, I’ll always stick to this «rule»: consistency is a good way to make it easier..
Synonyms
association
noun
a group of people who have joined together because they have similar interests or aims
commission
noun
a group of people that is officially put in charge of something or asked to find out about something
organization
noun
a group of people who have a particular shared purpose or interest, for example a political party or charity
group
noun
a set of people who meet or do something together because they share the same purpose or ideas: can be followed by a singular or plural verb
body
noun
a group of people who are connected in some way, often because they are involved in the same activity
set
noun
a group of people who spend time together or who share an interest