fellow feeling
C1/C2 (Low frequency)Formal, literary, elevated
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of shared sympathy, understanding, or solidarity with another person or group, based on shared experiences, circumstances, or humanity.
An emotional bond or connection that arises from mutual understanding or a sense of commonality, sometimes extending to compassion and kindness. It implies a recognition of shared interests or vulnerabilities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
An uncountable noun. It conveys a positive, empathetic connection. The term is somewhat dated but still used in formal, philosophical, or sociological contexts. It is often preceded by adjectives like 'genuine', 'warm', or 'deep'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and register. The hyphenated form 'fellow-feeling' is slightly more common in older British texts but is now rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a somewhat intellectual or formal empathy, sometimes with a slight antiquarian or genteel nuance.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation in both British and American English. Slightly higher historical frequency in British English, but the gap has narrowed.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
A feeling of ~ (for/towards/with sb/sth)~ for sb/sth~ between people/groupsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There is no fellow feeling in him.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in corporate communications about team building or corporate social responsibility to imply a shared human connection.
Academic
Used in sociology, philosophy, and ethics to discuss social bonds, moral sentiment, and community cohesion.
Everyday
Uncommon. If used, it would be in more reflective or serious conversation about shared hardships or collective experiences.
Technical
Not used in STEM fields. May appear in psychological or anthropological writing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He felt fellow feeling with the other new students.
- There was a strong fellow feeling among the volunteers who helped after the flood.
- Despite their political differences, a genuine fellow feeling emerged from their shared experience of parental loss, fostering an unexpected dialogue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two fellows (people) sharing the same feeling. The alliteration (Fellow Feeling) helps: both words start with 'F' and link people and emotion.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION IS A BOND/TIE; SHARED EXPERIENCE IS COMMON GROUND.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'товарищеское чувство' in all contexts, as it can sound Soviet-style or overly political. 'Сочувствие' (sympathy) or 'взаимопонимание' (mutual understanding) are often more natural equivalents.
- Do not confuse with 'brotherly love' ('братская любовь'), which has a stronger, more familial connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a fellow feeling'). It is uncountable. *'I have a fellow feeling for her' is incorrect; use 'I have fellow feeling for her' or 'I feel fellow feeling for her'.
- Confusing it with 'good feeling', which is more general and less specific to shared experience.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'fellow feeling' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related. 'Fellow feeling' is a type of sympathy specifically rooted in a sense of shared experience or common identity. Sympathy can be felt for anyone's misfortune, while fellow feeling implies a shared ground.
It is quite formal and literary. In everyday talk, words like 'sympathy', 'empathy', or 'connection' are more common and natural.
Today, it is standardly written as two separate words: 'fellow feeling'. The hyphenated form 'fellow-feeling' is considered archaic.
It functions exclusively as a noun, specifically an uncountable or mass noun.