guild

noun

ˈgild 

variants or less commonly gild

1

: an association of people with similar interests or pursuits

especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen

2

: a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way

a feeding guild

guildship

ˈgil(d)-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• college
• congress
• consortium
• council
• fellowship
• fraternity
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

Examples of guild in a Sentence

after his apprenticeship, he was able to join the stonemasons' guild

Recent Examples on the Web

Given France’s historic protectionism of its film sector, that pact with French cinema guilds is significant. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025

Disney+ went on to negotiate separately with French guilds to commit to invest roughly €40 million per year in French movies for the next three years and access films nine months after their theatrical window. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025

Jane Fonda, 87, given the guild’s Life Achievement Award, provided the evening with its most passionately political moment. —Jake Coyle, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025

The expo is a biennial gathering of quilters representing nine guilds from Key West to Port St. Lucie. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild — more at geld

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guild

• guild socialism

Rhymes for guild

• billed
• build
• chilled
• drilled
• filled
• frilled
• gild
• grilled
• killed
• milled
• rilled
• shrilled

Kids Definition

guild

noun

variants also gild

ˈgild

: an association of persons with common interests or aims

especially : an association of merchants or craftsmen in the Middle Ages