teammate
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A member of the same team.
A person who is part of a collective group working towards a common goal, implying a relationship of cooperation and mutual support. Can extend metaphorically beyond sports to any collaborative context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies shared membership, collaboration, and often a degree of camaraderie or interdependence. Can be used literally (sports) or figuratively (work, projects).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. Slight potential for UK preference of 'team-mate' (with hyphen), but 'teammate' is overwhelmingly standard in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of cooperation, support, and shared responsibility in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with equal commonality in sports, business, and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + verb + with + [teammate][Teammate] + verb + [object][Possessive] + teammateVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Be a team player”
- “On the same team”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a colleague in a project or department, emphasizing collaborative goals.
Academic
Used in group projects or research teams to denote fellow students or researchers.
Everyday
Commonly used in sports contexts and any group activity (gaming, volunteering).
Technical
Used in sports science, management, and organisational psychology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My teammate passed me the ball.
- I like my new teammate.
- A good teammate always supports the others.
- She thanked her teammate for the assist.
- Effective communication with your teammate is crucial for success.
- Despite the pressure, her teammate remained remarkably calm.
- The veteran player took his younger teammate under his wing, mentoring him through the season.
- Their success was predicated on an almost telepathic understanding between teammates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TEAM' + 'MATE' (friend). A friend on your team.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEAM IS A FAMILY (supportive, close-knit), TEAM IS A MACHINE (interdependent parts).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'командочный товарищ'. Use 'партнёр по команде' or 'сокомандник'.
- Do not confuse with 'коллега' which is broader (any workplace colleague), while 'teammate' implies a shared, active goal.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'teammates' (not 'teammate's' for plural).
- Confusion with 'teammate' (noun) vs. 'team mate' (less common, hyphenated variant).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'teammate' most closely implies:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word: 'teammate'. The hyphenated form 'team-mate' is less common but not incorrect.
Yes, it's commonly used in any collaborative context like work, school projects, or online gaming to refer to a fellow member of your group.
'Partner' can imply a more formal or equal one-to-one relationship (business partners, dance partners). 'Teammate' specifically denotes membership in a larger group (a team) and the focus is on the collective.
Yes, 'teammate' is perfectly gender-neutral. Context or pronouns (he/she/they) specify the individual.