guild

noun

ˈgild 

variants or less commonly gild

1

: an association of people with similar interests or pursuits

especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen

2

: a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way

a feeding guild

guildship

ˈgil(d)-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of guild

• organization
• association
• institution
• society
• institute
• fraternity
• chamber
• brotherhood

Examples of guild in a Sentence

after his apprenticeship, he was able to join the stonemasons' guild

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of leaning into French Indochina, the design draws on Hanoi's craft traditions, the Red River, lacquer art, and the city's historic guild streets to create a distinctly contemporary expression of Vietnamese luxury. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Founded in the Middle Ages as a guild, the building reopened as an exhibition space in 2015 after an architectural restoration. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Non-members can also access Cloak for $10 when using the WGAE’s script registration, a service the guild already offers to all writers regardless of membership status to protect their work before going wide with it. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

In addition to being provided as a free service to those within the WGAE, writers who aren’t members can add Cloak by registering their script through the guild’s website. — J. Kim Murphy, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild — more at geld

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing guild

• guild socialism

Rhymes for guild

• billed
• build
• chilled
• drilled
• filled
• frilled
• gild
• grilled
• killed
• milled
• rilled
• shrilled

Kids Definition

guild

noun

variants also gild

ˈgild

: an association of persons with common interests or aims

especially : an association of merchants or craftsmen in the Middle Ages