gregarious
gruh-GAIR-ee-us
/ɡrɪˈɡɛəriəs/
Fond of company; sociably inclined to gather in groups or herds.
Implies an active preference for being surrounded by a group rather than staying alone.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'gregarius', meaning belonging to a herd or flock (from 'grex'). It originally described animals that stayed together before being applied to social humans.
Word relationships
- sociable: Sociable implies being agreeable in groups; gregarious emphasizes the instinctual urge to flock together.
- solitary: Solitary describes preferring solitude over group settings.
Commonly confused with
- garrulous: Garrulous means excessively talkative, while gregarious simply means loving group company.
Word family
- gregariousness (noun): The quality of enjoying company.
Collocations
- gregarious animal
- gregarious nature
- gregarious instinct
Example sentences
- "Her gregarious nature made her the natural host for community gatherings." Character depiction
- "Dolphins are gregarious creatures that hunt and travel in large pods." Biological context
Memory hook
GREG is always in a herd of friends. Flocking with the herd.
When not to use
Avoid using for solitary activities or quiet one-on-one intimate chats.
Fun facts
- The root 'grex' also gives us 'egregious' (standing out from the herd) and 'congregate'.
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