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 There, the pair of college students would listen to the trills of saxophones and shake hands with musicians, sometimes giving band members rides to gigs. Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026 Instead, what interested me was seeing the story from other perspectives, beginning with the aunt who initiated the Buddhist ceremony, but also including other family members. Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 Goodreads, the reading and book-tracking platform, has more than 150 million members. Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 Shivon Zilis was an under-the-radar executive at Elon Musk’s companies and an OpenAI board member back in 2022. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • But then finally, there's the economic growth component.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 May 2026
  • This component is part of the circuit for both the horn and the airbag.
    Hartford Courant, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • The court struck down that portion of the legislation, a move that infuriated Cindy's family.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Hillsborough commissioner Joshua Wostal has proposed using a tourist development tax to pay the county’s portion of construction, but that would require the Rays to pay all the upfront costs for construction and get reimbursed with public funds over the next 35 years.
    John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And the other really important element in this is, of course, the connection between Israel and the Jewish people.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
  • There's a gut-punching element of tragedy, too, as Loki kills his real father, Laufey (Colm Feore), then appears to plummet to his own death in the final act.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Injuries are part of the story.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • That’s part of the responsibility of leadership.
    Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • All these factors combined lead to more walks.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This is basically every aerophobic flier’s worst nightmare, and Harlin does a solid job of maintaining the fear factor and shock right up to the moment of Rich’s decision to dump fuel and ditch, since the nearest airport, Guam, is out of range.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Costa Mesa outdistanced Westlake by 53 points to claim its first section crown and highlight a record-setting second day of the section championships.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
  • In 1980, 35 people were killed when a freighter rammed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in Florida, causing a 1,300-foot section of the southbound span to collapse.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • As Estes notes, more than a few of these products had active ingredients that were cathartic or purgative, a fact rarely noted on labels.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 May 2026
  • Oat is the formula’s first ingredient, which is effective at soothing sensitive, irritated scalps.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Filming for this season’s segments at the six restaurants all took place in February, with Fieri visiting each spot with his son and fellow Food Network personality, Hunter.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
  • The system is paired with CATL’s latest 6C Qilin battery technology, positioning the luxury MPV among the faster-charging EVs in its segment.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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