member

noun

mem·​ber ˈmem-bər 

often attributive

1

: a body part or organ: such as

a

: limb

b

: penis

c

: a unit of structure in a plant body

2

: one of the individuals composing a group

3

: a person baptized or enrolled in a church

4

: a part of a whole: such as

a

: a syntactic or rhythmic unit of a sentence : clause

b

: one of the propositions of a syllogism

c

: one of the elements of a set or class

d

: either of the equated elements in a mathematical equation

Synonyms

• building block
• component
• constituent
• element
• factor
• ingredient

Choose the Right Synonym for member

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole.

part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Examples of member in a Sentence

The club has 300 members.

She is a member of the House of Representatives.

She is a member of Parliament.

a member of the audience

This bird is a member of the finch family.

countries that are members of the United Nations

a horizontal member of a bridge

Recent Examples on the Web

Australian South Sea Islanders, or ASSI, experience greater economic disadvantages than members of non-ASSI communities, including fewer educational opportunities and higher unemployment rates. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

Impeaching Yoon would require a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, or 200 out of 300 members. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Tye Sheridan plays the newest addition to the sheriff’s office, a longtime local resident who grew up with a lot of the Order’s members. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024

With 190 of its 300 members present, Parliament quickly passed a resolution demanding that Yoon lift the martial law as protests erupted outside the building. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English membre, from Anglo-French, from Latin membrum; akin to Goth mimz flesh, Greek mēros thigh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing member

• charter member
• co-member
• founding member
• multi-member constituency
• multi-member district
• private member
• private member's bill
• service member
• single-member constituency
• single-member district
• web member

Kids Definition

member

noun

mem·​ber ˈmem-bər 

1

: a part (as an arm, leg, leaf, or branch) of an animal or plant

2

: one of the individuals or units of a group or organization

a club member

3

: a part of a whole and especially of a structure

a horizontal member of a bridge

4

a

: the whole expression on one side or the other of a mathematical equation or inequality

b

: element sense 2b

Medical Definition

member

noun

mem·​ber ˈmem-bər 

: a body part or organ

the thyroid gland may be the offending member

—H. A. Overstreet

: as

a

: limb

b

: penis