Definition of membernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of member Tragically, on the descent, four members of the crew lost their lives when a rope snapped. Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026 Interactions with a female family member might be significant. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 Now a member of the Indiana Fever, the veteran big still has love for the Golden State organization. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 At least 1,200 of the approximately 4,300 seats on the White House lawn will go to active military members, Time reports, and the rest of the seats have been divided up between the White House, TKO and the UFC. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • While Belarus has not contributed troops to battle, Lukashenko has backed President Vladimir Putin’s war effort by hosting Russia’s nuclear weapons and military infrastructure, as well as producing components for Moscow’s military industries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 May 2026
  • While lithium often dominates headlines, graphite is actually one of the largest components inside a lithium-ion battery by weight.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • The memorial is made up of a garden with 50 granite steps leading to a massive tablet carved with a portion of his inauguration address from 1961.
    Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
  • Blanche said later at the hearing that the DOJ wasn't abandoning the tax portion of the settlement.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • This last element is worth unpacking a bit.
    Ian Mackenzie, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
  • Diamonds are in my DNA, and unexpected design elements and object detailing are central to my work.
    Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • But violence has since roared back, in part because armed groups have taken advantage of peace negotiations with Petro’s government to make territorial gains.
    Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
  • All three of the women at the center of Starry were staunchly individualistic and gravitated differently toward and then away from a sense of being part of a group.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Inflation concerns Another factor that could push the RBI in favour of a rate cut is the risk of higher inflation.
    Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 June 2026
  • Much of Microsoft’s messaging around AI is speculative and self-serving, but the company rightly points out that new computing form factors have always required specialization, and that process is complex and expensive.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The senior escaped several jams to toss a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead JSerra past La Mirada 3-2 for its first section title.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
  • In the frozen food section, Deep Brands is serving Asian flavors to a diverse customer base that reflects the country, not just an Asian population, according to General Manager Kiernan Laughlin.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The kitchen teams source 70% of their ingredients from local purveyors, reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint, too.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • When the skin barrier is healthy, the skin looks calmer, smoother, more luminous and more tolerant of active ingredients, Devgan tells me.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • By making intelligent-driving functions available across more vehicle segments, the company hopes to accelerate adoption and establish a stronger position in both domestic and international markets.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
  • Before modern Italy was formed, in 1861, France had claimed territories on nearly every continent, imposed its language and culture around the globe, and has since granted French citizenship to certain segments of its colonized populations.
    Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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