good-fellowship: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “good-fellowship” mean?
Friendly companionship and mutual goodwill among a group of people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Friendly companionship and mutual goodwill among a group of people.
An instance or state of cheerful sociability; a spirit of camaraderie.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more frequent in British English and often carries a somewhat archaic or literary tone in both varieties. Can be found in formal toasts or speeches in the UK.
Connotations
Connotes a sense of old-fashioned, hearty, and often masculine camaraderie. May imply conviviality fuelled by drink or shared purpose.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern corpora, primarily found in older texts, formal oratory, or self-consciously literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “good-fellowship” in a Sentence
the good-fellowship of [GROUP]good-fellowship among/between [PEOPLE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in corporate literature to describe a positive team culture.
Academic
Extremely rare in formal academic writing. Possible in historical or literary studies.
Everyday
Very rare in spoken English. Sounds formal and old-fashioned.
Technical
Not used in any technical domain.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “good-fellowship”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “good-fellowship”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a good-fellowship event' – better: 'a convivial event'). Confusing it with 'scholarship'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare and has a formal, literary, or slightly archaic feel. Words like 'camaraderie' or 'sociability' are more common.
Yes, 'good-fellowship' is the standard dictionary spelling when referring to the concept of companionship. The open form 'good fellowship' is also seen but is less common for the fixed concept.
No, it describes a state, atmosphere, or quality of interaction between people, not an attribute of a single individual. You would not say 'He is a good-fellowship.'
'Fellowship' is broader and can mean an association of people sharing common interests (e.g., a research fellowship) or the feeling itself. 'Good-fellowship' specifically emphasizes the pleasant, friendly, and often jovial nature of that companionship.
Friendly companionship and mutual goodwill among a group of people.
Good-fellowship is usually formal, literary in register.
Good-fellowship: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈfeləʊʃɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡʊd ˈfeloʊˌʃɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drink to good-fellowship”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GOOD group of FELLOWS who SHIP together – they have good-fellowship on their ship.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPANIONSHIP IS WARMTH (e.g., 'warm atmosphere of good-fellowship').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'good-fellowship' in the sentence: 'The evening was filled with laughter and good-fellowship'?