Collective Nouns in English: A Comprehensive Guide

Collective nouns are unique terms that make language colorful and interesting. When we talk about collective nouns, we’re talking about words that describe groups using one name.  From a “flock” of birds soaring in the sky to a “herd” of cattle grazing in a field, collective nouns add richness to our expressions and descriptions.

What are Collective Nouns?

Collective nouns are special words (nouns) used to talk about groups of people, animals, or things together. Instead of naming each individual separately, these words help us describe the whole group with just one word. For example, words like “family,” “team,” “herd,” or, “flock,” mean a bunch of things together, like a big team or a group of animals, even though they are made up of many individual members.

Types of Collective Nouns

1. Animals

Collective nouns for animals are some of the most interesting ones. For example, a bunch of crows is called a “murder,” a group of owls is a “parliament,” and several cats together form a “clowder.” Imagine seeing a lot of bees flying around a garden, it’s called a “swarm,” or spotting porcupines together in a forest is a “prickle.”

Here are a few collective nouns examples for animals:

• A murder of crows
• A parliament of owls
• A clowder of cats
• A swarm of bees
• A prickle of porcupines
• A pack of wolves
• A herd of elephants
• A pod of dolphins
• A troop of monkeys
• A school of fish

2. People

Now, let’s talk about collective nouns for people. Just like animals, groups of people also have special names. A team of athletes working towards winning is called a “team,” a class full of students eager to learn is a “class,” and a group of musicians playing together is a “band.” For instance, a big group of people cheering at a sports event is a “crowd,” or when relatives gather for a celebration, it’s a “family.”

Collective nouns examples for people:

• A team of athletes
• A class of students
• A band of musicians
• A crowd of spectators
• A family of relatives
• A staff of employees
• A committee of members
• A cast of actors
• A crew of workers
• A choir of singers

3. Objects and Things

Surprisingly, even objects have their own collective nouns! A bunch of books stacked together is a “stack,” a group of ships sailing together is a “fleet,” and a bunch of flowers arranged nicely is a “bouquet.” For example, when you organize a bunch of tools in your garage, it’s a “set,” or when you look up and see many stars together, it’s a “cluster.”

Some examples of collective nouns for objects and things:

• A stack of books
• A fleet of ships
• A bouquet of flowers
• A set of tools
• A cluster of stars
• A deck of cards
• An album of photographs
• A suite of furniture
• A library of books
• A bundle of sticks

100 Examples of Collective Nouns

Collective Noun Examples Used in Sentences

Let’s explore how collective nouns are used in sentences to describe groups. Check out these examples:

1. The team of players worked together to win the championship.
2. A herd of elephants paraded gracefully across the vast savannah.
3. Our family enjoys picnics in the park on weekends.
4. The flock of birds flew in mesmerizing patterns across the sky.
5. She spotted a swarm of bees buzzing around the garden flowers.
6. The pack of wolves howled loudly in the moonlit night.
7. A bouquet of flowers adorned the dining table beautifully.
8. The army of ants diligently carried food back to their colony.
9. A fleet of ships sailed majestically across the ocean.
10. They admired a collection of rare coins at the museum.

Collective Nouns List

Explore these common collective nouns that describe groups of people, animals, or things:

1. Herd (animals): A group of grazing animals, such as cows, elephants, or deer, moving together.
2. Team (people): Individuals working together towards a common goal, like athletes in a sports team or employees in a company.
3. Flock (birds): A collection of birds, like geese or starlings, flying or feeding together.
4. School (fish): A large group of fish swimming together in water.
5. Pack (animals): A group of animals, such as wolves or dogs, traveling or hunting together.
6. Family (people): A group of relatives, parents, and children living together or related by blood.
7. Swarm (insects): An active and buzzing group of insects, such as bees or flies, usually in motion.
8. Hive (bees): A colony of bees living and working together in their nest.
9. Class (students): A group of students attending lessons or studying together in a school.
10. Cluster (objects): A small group of similar objects gathered closely together.

11. Gaggle (geese): A group of geese usually on land or water, often noisy and active.
12. Pod (marine animals): A group of marine animals like dolphins or whales swimming together.
13. Pride (lions): A social group of lions, typically led by a dominant male, living and hunting together.
14. Troop (people or animals): A group of soldiers or a unit of animals moving or acting together.
15. Mob (people): A disorderly or unruly crowd of people often in agitation or protest.
16. Crew (people): A group of individuals working together on a specific task or operating a vehicle.
17. Quiver (arrows): A set or group of arrows typically held in a container or used by an archer.
18. Pack (cards): A complete set of playing cards, often used in card games.
19. Band (musicians): A group of musicians playing instruments or performing together.
20. Colony (animals or people): A group of organisms or people living together in the same area.

21. Congress (birds): A gathering of birds, particularly crows or owls, usually for roosting or nesting.
22. Grove (trees): A small group of trees growing closely together.
23. Clowder (cats): A group of cats, often seen lounging or playing together.
24. Brood (chickens): A group of young birds, especially chicks hatched at the same time by one hen.
25. Pod (plants): A group of plants, particularly peas or dolphins, arranged closely together.
26. Troop (monkeys): A group of monkeys, often traveling and feeding together.
27. Gallery (paintings): A collection of paintings or works of art displayed together.
28. Suite (rooms): A group of connected rooms, especially in a hotel or office building.
29. Board (directors): A group of individuals forming a governing body for an organization or company.
30. Parliament (owls): A collective term for a group of owls, known for their perceived wisdom and nocturnal activities.

Collective Nouns Exercise

Time to test your collective noun knowledge. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate collective noun:

1. A _______ of wolves howled in the distance.
2. The _______ of students was excited about the field trip.
3. We saw a _______ of ants marching towards their nest.
4. The _______ of fish swam gracefully in the ocean.
5. A _______ of sheep grazed peacefully in the meadow.
6. The _______ of bees buzzed around the flowers.
7. She observed a _______ of dolphins swimming alongside the boat.
8. The _______ of soldiers marched in perfect formation.
9. We watched a _______ of geese flying in a V-formation.
10. A _______ of flowers adorned the garden.

Answers

1. A pack of wolves howled in the distance.
2. The class of students was excited about the field trip.
3. We saw a column of ants marching towards their nest.
4. The school of fish swam gracefully in the ocean.
5. A herd/flock of sheep grazed peacefully in the meadow. (Either “herd” or “flock” is acceptable)
6. The swarm of bees buzzed around the flowers.
7. She observed a pod of dolphins swimming alongside the boat.
8. The platoon of soldiers marched in perfect formation.
9. We watched a skein of geese flying in a V-formation.
10. A bed of flowers adorned the garden.