fellow

UK: 'fellow', 'Fellow': /ˈfɛləʊ/ US: /ˈfɛloʊ/ ,(fel′ō)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fel•low /ˈfɛloʊ/   n. 

[countable]
1. a man or boy:
   a handsome fellow.
2. Informal Terms a person;
   one:
   They don't treat a fellow very well here.
3. a companion;
   comrade;
   associate:
   his fellows at work.
4. Education a graduate student to whom an allowance is granted for special study.
5. a member of any of certain learned societies:
   a fellow of the British Academy.

adj. [before a noun]

6. belonging to the same class or group:
   fellow students.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fel•low  (fel′ō), n. 

1. a man or boy:
   a fine old fellow; a nice little fellow.
2. Informal Terms beau;
   suitor:
   Mary had her fellow over to meet her folks.
3. Informal Terms person;
   one:
   They don't treat a fellow very well here.
4. a person of small worth or no esteem.
5. a companion;
   comrade;
   associate:
   They have been fellows since childhood.
6. a person belonging to the same rank or class;
   equal;
   peer:
   The doctor conferred with his fellows.
7. one of a pair;
   mate;
   match:
   a shoe without its fellow.
8. Education
   • a graduate student of a university or college to whom an allowance is granted for special study.
   • Education [Brit.] an incorporated member of a college, entitled to certain privileges.
   • a member of the corporation or board of trustees of certain universities or colleges.
9. a member of any of certain learned societies:
   a fellow of the British Academy.
10. [Obs.] a partner.

v.t. 

11. to make or represent as equal with another.
12. [Archaic.] to produce a fellow to;
    match.

adj. 

13. belonging to the same class or group;
    united by the same occupation, interests, etc.;
    being in the same condition:
    fellow students; fellow sufferers.

• Old Norse fēlagi partner in a joint undertaking, equivalent. to fē money, property (cognate with Old English feoh, German Vieh) + -lagi bedfellow, comrade; akin to lair¹, lie²
• Middle English felowe, felawe, late Old English fēolaga bef. 1050

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fellow / ˈfɛləʊ/ noun

1. a man or boy
2. an informal word for boyfriend
3. one or oneself: a fellow has to eat
4. a person considered to be of little importance or worth
5. (often plural) a companion; comrade; associate
6. (as modifier): fellow travellers
7. a member of the governing body or established teaching staff at any of various universities or colleges
8. a person in the same group, class, or condition: if in doubt, ask your fellows their opinions
9. (as modifier): fellow students, a fellow sufferer
10. one of a pair; counterpart; mate

Etymology: Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse fēlagi, one who lays down money, from fē money + lag a laying down

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Fellow / ˈfɛləʊ/ noun

1. a member of any of various learned societies: Fellow of the British Academy