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

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• college
• congress
• consortium
• council
• fellowship
• fraternity
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

Examples of guild in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The winner of the PGA Innovation Award won’t be announced until later in awards season, during one of the preliminary events to the guild’s own PGA Awards in February, said Associate National Executive Director Michelle Byrd, who runs the awards. —David Bloom, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

The guild represents approximately 10,000 members who work on features films, TV, streaming, commercials, news broadcasts, documentaries, and more. —Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2024

The guild touted several gains in the three-year deal, including increases to health and pension funds and wage increases of 7% in the first year, 4% in the second and 3.5% in the third. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024

The guild has been bargaining with the affiliates — based in New York, Boston and Los Angeles — since late September. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024

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

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