Definition of membernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word member distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of member are division, fragment, part, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

In what contexts can division take the place of member?

While in some cases nearly identical to member, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is fragment a more appropriate choice than member?

Although the words fragment and member have much in common, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is it sensible to use part instead of member?

The words part and member are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for member?

While the synonyms piece and member are close in meaning, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to member?

In some situations, the words portion and member are roughly equivalent. However, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When can section be used instead of member?

The words section and member can be used in similar contexts, but section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When might segment be a better fit than member?

The meanings of segment and member largely overlap; however, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of member Fountain's appointment to the five-member board is subject to the approval of the Little Rock Board of Directors. Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025 Backed by the County Commission’s most powerful member, Chair Anthony Rodriguez, the A3 Foundation served as a financial clearinghouse for CountryFest, the county rodeo Rodriguez hosts each year in his district at Tropical Park. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025 Those who watched from the sidelines came out to show their support for veterans, family members who served, and some commemorated themselves as veterans. Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2025 The honorees all were surrounded by family members, friends, teammates and mentors. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • Still, some military analysts remain cautious, noting that satellites are built to endure intense cosmic radiation with hardened components and shielding, leaving open the question of whether such directed energy could penetrate these defenses.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Tariffs can affect American producers indirectly, when many components involved in wine production come from overseas.
    Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a large portion of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal was destroyed during the first hours of the aerial attacks.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After battling two years of slowly deteriorating vision, Charton was able to claw back a small portion of her lost world.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But the fourth-down element has been in the spotlight.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
  • At the same time, aging-in-place design elements are becoming more mainstream — and more aesthetically integrated.
    Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Michael briefly followed in his adoptive parents' footsteps, embarking on a career in entertainment in the 1980s that ranged from a stint on the CBS political soap opera Capitol, to a part as a concierge in the primetime soap Falcon Crest, which starred Wyman.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
  • West Coast Customs and DEKA Research and Development are involved in key parts of the build.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His reckless decision to escalate the aggression and number of immigration agents is a causal factor, regardless of the outcome of an investigation into this tragic death.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Researchers revealed that one of the key factors that enabled Despotopulos and his team to make these first-ever experimental measurements was access to the world’s highest-energy laser system, located at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF).
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Table of Contents is divided along the parts of a young body, with sections titled Heads Up!
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Barry points to the central section of the pitch, on either side of the halfway line, to make his point.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Located along the bustling stretch of Platja de l’Arenal, the restaurant offers high-caliber dining that changes with the seasons and highlights local ingredients.
    Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The multi-use primer is packed with skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that feel nourishing on the skin.
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • After Whoopi Goldberg's Finding Your Roots segment revealed that football player Tony Gonzalez is her distant cousin, the actress invited the former athlete to The View.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
  • These ads showed images of tractors, mountains of blueberries and a man’s hands massaging a clump of dirt, each segment highlighting a different part of the industry.
    Carolina Abbott Galvão, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

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