often attributive
2
3
: a member of a group having common characteristics
specifically
: a member of an incorporated literary or scientific society
a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
4
5
: an incorporated member of a college or collegiate foundation especially in a British university
6
: a person appointed to a position granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research
Did you know?
The Old Norse word for a partner, felagi, means literally “one who puts down property.” Such people were those who laid together their property for some common purpose. Old English borrowed felagi from Old Norse and called a partner a feolaga. This word has come down to us, through several centuries and the development of a number of senses, as modern English fellow. Perhaps its most common use today is its very general one, in which it is applied to any boy or man.
Cite this Entry
“Fellow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fellow. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
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