Collective Nouns in English: 120+ Examples & Sentences

Key takeaways:

• Collective nouns are words that describe a group of people, animals, or things as a single unit (like “team” or “flock”).
• In American English, they are usually treated as singular, while British English allows both singular and plural use depending on context.
• There are hundreds of collective nouns, from common ones like “class” or “herd” to fun ones like “flamboyance” or “grumble”.
• Grammar rules involve verb and pronoun agreement, and consistency is key to avoiding mistakes in formal writing.
• Mastering collective nouns helps learners sound more natural in English and improves writing clarity across different contexts.

All countable nouns have plural forms, like cats, books, or chairs. But did you know that you don’t always need a plural word to talk about more than one person, animal, or thing? 

Sometimes, one special word can describe a whole group, which is what we call a collective noun. It refers to a group acting as a single unit, much like a “team,” which is formed by more than one person.

In today’s article, you’ll learn more about what collective nouns are, the grammar rules that are behind them, and read some examples of collective noun sentences. By the end, everything will be easy to understand!

What Is a Collective Noun

Collective nouns are words that refer to an entire group of people, animals, or things and describe them as a single unit. Whether to treat collective noun examples as singulars or plurals depends on several factors.

Collective noun examples in American English

In American English, collective nouns are typically considered singular. While in casual conversations, you might hear both, but when it comes to formal writing, it’s better to stick to the standard rule. For example:

• The team is practicing for the tournament.
• The family is planning a reunion for the holidays.

Collective noun examples in British English

In British English, a collective noun can be both singular and plural, depending on the context. In most cases, it is considered plural when you need to emphasize the group's individual members. For example:

• Singular: The team is winning this season. (The team as one unit)
• Plural: The team are wearing their new uniforms. (Meaning each member has a uniform)

So, what are collective nouns? These are words used to describe a group of people, animals, or things. In most cases, these nouns are singular, and while some exceptions are allowed in casual speech, it is better to follow the singular rules when it comes to formal and academic writing.

Common Collective Noun Examples for Everyday English

Now that you know what a collective noun is, it is time to move on and finally get to some practice! Below you will see a list of collective noun examples to help you get started.

People & Profession Collective Nouns

Since these words describe groups of people, animals, or things, we will talk about each category separately. So, what are examples of collective nouns when talking about people?

1. Team: a group of people working together.
2. Committee: a body of people appointed for a specific function or decision-making process.
3. Panel: a group of experts gathered to discuss or judge a matter.
4. Audience: a group of spectators or listeners at an event.
5. Staff: the collective employees of an organization.
6. Band: a group of musicians playing together.
7. Troop: a group of scouts or soldiers, or a small group gathered for a specific purpose.
8. Choir: a group of singers performing together.
9. Crew: people working together on a ship, aircraft, or a specific project.
10. Cast: all the performers in a play, film, or show.
11. Board: a group of people managing or advising an organization (e.g., board of directors).
12. Class: a group of students learning together.
13. Council: a group of elected or appointed people making decisions for a community or group.
14. Jury: a group of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case.
15. Brass: the senior officers or leaders of an organization, often military or corporate.
16. Faculty: the teaching staff of a school or university.
17. Force: a group of people organized for action, like a police force or task force.
18. Delegation: a group of representatives sent to act on behalf of others.
19. Gang: a group of people (often informal or associated with crime, but also used neutrally in British English: "a gang of friends").
20. Mob: a disorderly or angry crowd of people.
21. Syndicate: a group of individuals or organizations working together (e.g., for business or crime).
22. Squad: a small, organized group of people, often military, police, or sports-related (also, a fun way to call a group of friends).
23. Troupe: a group of actors, dancers, or entertainers.
24. Patrol: a group assigned to monitor or guard an area.
25. Posse: a group assembled for a common purpose (originally law enforcement, now also casual/fun: "a posse of friends").
26. Retinue: a group of assistants or advisers accompanying an important person.
27. Company: a group of actors, soldiers, or business colleagues.
28. Workshop: a group gathered for discussion or training, especially in education or the arts.
29. Union: an organized group of workers acting collectively for rights or benefits.
30. Sisterhood: a group of women united by shared profession, belief, identity, or strong loyalty to each other (the female version of “brotherhood”).

Animal Collective Nouns

When talking about animals, the situation is a bit different. Here, a list of collective nouns consists of different terms that depend on the species of the animal you’re talking about.

1. Herd: a group of cows grazing or moving together.
2. Pack: a group of wolves that live and hunt together.
3. Flock: a group of birds flying or feeding together.
4. School: a group of fish swimming together in the same direction.
5. Pride: a family group of lions, typically led by a male.
6. Gaggle: a group of geese on the ground (in flight, called a “skein”).
7. Colony: a structured group of ants living and working together.
8. Swarm: a large group of bees flying or clustered together.
9. Litter: a group of puppies born to the same mother.
10. Troop: a social group of monkeys living and moving together.
11. Murder: a poetic term for a group of crows.
12. Parliament: a whimsical term for a group of owls.
13. Pod: a group of dolphins swimming together.
14. Dazzle: a colorful name for a group of zebras.
15. Bale: a group of turtles, especially when resting on land.
16. Crash: a powerful term for a group of rhinoceroses.
17. Sounder: a group of wild or domestic pigs.
18. Skulk: a group of foxes, usually hiding or moving quietly.
19. Leap: a rare collective noun for a group of leopards.
20. Army: a large group of frogs, especially during migration.
21. Clutter: a group of spiders in one area.
22. Romp: a playful group of otters, especially when on land.
23. Business: an energetic group of ferrets.
24. Sleuth: a slow-moving group of bears.
25. Kennel: a group of dogs kept together (usually domesticated).
26. Drift: another term for a group of young pigs.
27. Horde: a playful term for a group of hamsters.
28. Band: a family group of gorillas.
29. Gang: a herd of elk, often seen in the wild.
30. Bevy: a group of swans on land or water (in flight: a “wedge”).

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Collective Nouns for Objects & Abstract Concepts 

What are some collective noun examples when it comes to groups of inanimate objects? There are also a lot of them to use in different situations. Here are some common examples of collective nouns in this case:

1. Bouquet: an arranged grouping of flowers.
2. Batch: a group of items produced or prepared together.
3. Bunch: a cluster of items loosely gathered or tied together.
4. Pile: a heap or mound of objects, often disorganized.
5. Stack: a neatly arranged pile of items, usually placed one on top of another.
6. Bundle: a group of items bound together, often for convenience.
7. Collection: an assembly of items gathered for their common characteristics or purposes.
8. Series: a sequence or set of items arranged in a logical order.
9. Range: a variety or selection of similar items.
10. Cluster: a group of similar items that are closely gathered together.
11. Set: a group of related objects usually used together.
12. Array: an impressive or organized display of items.
13. Heap: a large, untidy pile of objects.
14. Bundle: a group of items wrapped or tied together.
15. Fleet: a group of vehicles, ships, or aircraft operating as a unit.
16. Deck: a complete set of playing cards.
17. String: a line or sequence of connected items (e.g., string of lights).
18. Row: a linear arrangement of similar items side by side.
19. Pair: two items that are usually used or found together (e.g., a pair of shoes).
20. Suit: a set of playing cards in the same category (hearts, clubs, etc.).
21. Assortment: a mixed variety of different items grouped together.
22. Load: a group of items carried or delivered at once (e.g., a load of laundry).
23. Volume: one in a group of books or parts of a written work.
24. Group: a general term for multiple things or ideas considered together.
25. Sequence: a connected or ordered series of steps, items, or events.
26. Chain: a connected series of items or events (e.g., a chain of islands or reasoning).
27. Lineup: an arranged selection of items, people, or events presented in a particular order.
28. Assortment: a variety or mixture of items grouped together.
29. Catalog: a complete list or record of items, often for sale or display.
30. Archive: a collection of historical documents or records.

Learning what collective nouns are with examples allows you to easily memorize them and understand which one to use, depending on the context.

Rare & Humorous Collective Nouns

Here are some fun and unique collective noun examples:

1. Cete: a group of badgers.
2. Parcel/Fluffle: a group of rabbits.
3. Siege: a group of herons.
4. Exaltation: a group of larks.
5. Flamboyance: a group of flamingos.
6. Hover: a group of trout.
7. Coalition: a group of cheetahs.
8. Shrewdness: a group of apes.
9. Ambush: a surprising or stealthy group of tigers.
10. Unkindness: a poetic and eerie term for a group of ravens.
11. Scurry: a fast-moving group of squirrels.
12. Bloat: a floating or lounging group of hippopotamuses.
13. Waddle: a group of penguins walking on land.
14. Gaze: a curious, watchful group of raccoons.
15. Parade: a grand and orderly group of elephants.
16. Rafter: a group of turkeys (typically on the ground).
17. Confusion: a disoriented or noisy group of guinea fowl.
18. Stare: a group of owls, often sitting and watching quietly.
19. Obstinacy: a stubborn or unmoving group of buffalo. 
20. Trouble: a rarely used but vivid name for a group of leopards.
21. Glimmer: a magical, fictional gathering of unicorns.
22. Grumble: a funny, affectionate term for a group of pugs.
23. Pandemonium: a noisy, chaotic group of parrots.
24. Mess: a loose, tangled group of iguanas.
25. Anonymity: a playful modern term for unseen writers online.
26. Obsession: a humorous term for a passionate group of admirers.
27. Tedium: a tongue-in-cheek collective for number crunchers.
28. Argument: a witty play on the profession’s love for debate (e.g., lawyers, philosophers).
29. Echo: a poetic or eerie collection of repeated voices or thoughts.
30. Clusterfunk: a colloquial and humorous twist on a confusing group situation or mess.

Collective-Noun Sentences in Context

After learning the collective noun definition and exploring common examples, the next step is understanding how these words work in different contexts. To do this, let’s take a look at these collective noun example sentences.

1. The union [of workers] supports its members with legal advice. (singular verb)
2. The brotherhood [of firefighters] remains loyal through difficult times. (singular verb)
3. The choir [of singers] sings beautifully every Sunday. (Singular verb)
4. The herd [of cows] is moving across the plain. (Singular verb)
5. The pack [of wolves] have scattered across the forest. (Plural verb – British English)
6. The sequence [of movie scenes] continues in perfect order. (Singular verb)
7. The bundle [of sticks] was tied with a red ribbon. (Singular verb)
8. The parade [of elephants] is marching through the village. (Singular verb)
9. The glimmer [of hope] fades as the sun sets. (Singular verb)
10. The clusterfunk [of tasks and chaos] causes confusion every time. (Singular verb – humorous/fictional usage)

Collective Noun Grammar

After understanding the collective noun meaning, it’s time to learn some English grammar rules related to this topic. Here are the main things to keep in mind:

Subject-verb agreement: The verb must match how you perceive the group. Use a singular verb when viewing the group as one unit and a plural verb when highlighting the individual members. For example:

• The cast [of actors] is performing a Christmas play. (viewed as a unit)
• The cast [of actors] are arguing with each other. (viewed as individuals)

Pronoun agreement: Use singular pronouns (it, its) for a unified group and plural pronouns (they, their) when referring to the individual components. For example:

• The committee reached its decision after much debate.
• The committee shared their personal opinions before voting.

Consistency in usage: Once you decide on the collective noun list to use in a sentence or paragraph and its number (singular or plural), maintain that choice throughout to avoid confusion. For example:

• The staff is planning its annual retreat and is booking the venue.
• The staff are voicing their ideas and are choosing a location.

Formal vs. informal contexts: In formal writing, especially in American English, it’s best to stick with the standard singular usage. Informal contexts might allow for more flexibility in verb and pronoun agreement. For example:

• Formal: The orchestra performs its new piece tonight.
• Informal: The orchestra are tuning their instruments backstage.

Collective nouns’ English rules are not that hard to follow. Just keep them in mind, and you will be able to easily use collective nouns in English in different contexts.

Common Collective Noun Mistakes

Even though collective noun rules aren’t always strict, some English learners often struggle with a few recurring challenges. Let’s take a look at them so you can avoid them:

1. Incorrect verb agreement: Sometimes learners treat a singular collective noun as plural without intending to.

• Incorrect: The team are winning the match.
• Correct: The team is winning the match.

It’s best to use a singular verb when referring to the group as one whole, especially in American English and formal contexts.

2. Inconsistent pronoun usage: Switching between singular and plural pronouns in the same sentence creates confusion.

• Incorrect: The team won its game, but they did not celebrate.
• Correct: The team won its game, but it did not celebrate.

Stick with either singular or plural pronouns throughout the entire sentence.

3. Misidentifying the collective noun: Using the wrong collective term can sound unnatural or be incorrect altogether, which can cause confusion too.

• Incorrect: A flock [of birds] swam near the boat.
• Correct: A school [of fish] swam near the boat.

Remember to use the correct collective noun for the type of group you're referring to. Check in an English dictionary if you need to verify if the collective noun you want to use is correct.

If you need any extra help mastering these rules, don’t hesitate to book some private online lessons with our certified English tutors through the Promova app. Our team is always happy to help!

Summary

We learned that knowing the collective noun definition is an important part of mastering the English language. But we hope that the collective noun examples and tips we shared today are useful for you to be able to use collective nouns correctly in no time!