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 That perspective was shared by the county staff members who presented to them. Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 Three Ironworkers Local 401 members died in the collapse. Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 During that visit to the continent, Prince Harry and Meghan also sailed in Sydney Harbor with members of the Invictus Games. Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 In a speech earlier this month, Elizabeth Warren, who is the ranking minority member of the Senate Banking Committee, said that under Atkins the S.E.C. has filed three hundred enforcement cases, compared with twenty-seven hundred under his predecessor, Gary Gensler, who was a Biden appointee. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for member
Recent Examples of Synonyms for member
Noun
  • Is there an emotional component for you at this moment?
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • That's because the inevitable humidity can damage the internal electrical components of handheld mixers, electric can openers, blenders, and other appliances.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Yet, for a large portion of Massachusetts, this will be the warmest week yet.
    Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Already, there has been a government shutdown, and a significant portion of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is still closed owing to the fact that spending to reopen it hasn’t been approved.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There's an element, again, of control, and the element of torture.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Leslie Hasselback Adams, USA high diving performance director, said Fort Lauderdale has all the elements—wind and sun—to get competitors ready for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in two years.
    Joan Murray, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These are not lazy callbacks, but shared touchstones — part of a pop cultural language the film embedded into our collective consciousness, and that the show both celebrates and lovingly skewers.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is part of the wing of the American right that embraced Orbán.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These closures reflect various factors, including poor investment returns, a lack of government support for refinery upgrades and higher carbon and energy costs.
    Ian King, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • So what factors contribute to the high costs of living, especially for international workers, which is primarily what Mercer focuses on?
    Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Their remains have been moved across the street to another section of the graveyard.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The collapse happened at the CHOP parking garage under construction on the 3000 block of Grays Ferry Avenue on April 8 during the installation of a precast concrete section, according to Parker.
    Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • According to the report, Ward overdosed on a bottle of pills containing the active ingredient in Benadryl and became unresponsive.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Jonathan Buford and Patrick Ware are best known for quirky, fantastical brews made with hyperlocal ingredients (often foraged) and Sinagua Malt, a low-water malt grown in Arizona’s Verde Valley.
    Chris Malloy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The show began with a pre-recorded segment echoing Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that featured Sam Elliott as an off-putting traffic cop.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Even short, regular walks – whether around your neighborhood or broken into 10-to-15-minute segments throughout the day – can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and support digestion.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Member.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/member. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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