Gregarious: meaning, definitions and examples

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gregarious

 

[ ɡrɪˈɡɛːrɪəs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

personality trait

Fond of company; sociable. Gregarious individuals enjoy being around others and thrive in social situations.

Synonyms

friendly, outgoing, social.

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Word Description / Examples
gregarious

Used when describing someone who loves being in crowds and socializing. This word often applies to people who thrive in group settings and seek the company of others.

  • She's known for being gregarious, always the life of the party.
  • His gregarious nature makes him a great host for events.
social

Refers to someone who enjoys social activities and interacting with others, but it is a broader term that can also describe social behavior in general.

  • He's a very social person and loves attending various events.
  • The organization hosts many social gatherings to promote teamwork.
outgoing

Used for someone who is very enthusiastic about interacting with others and is not shy. This term often applies to people who make friends easily and are very approachable.

  • She’s very outgoing and never hesitates to introduce herself to new people.
  • His outgoing personality makes him an excellent salesperson.
friendly

Appropriate when describing someone who is kind, easy to approach, and pleasant to be around. This term is more general and can apply in a wide range of situations.

  • The staff at the hotel were incredibly friendly.
  • My new neighbor seems very friendly; he offered to help me move in.

Examples of usage

  • He is known for his gregarious personality, always surrounded by friends.
  • Her gregarious nature makes her the life of the party.
Context #2 | Adjective

animal behavior

Living in flocks or loosely organized groups. Gregarious animals prefer to be in close proximity to others of their species.

Synonyms

group-living, herd-dwelling, social.

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Word Description / Examples
gregarious

Used to describe someone who is naturally sociable and enjoys being in the company of others.

  • She is very gregarious and loves throwing parties for her friends.
  • John was known for his gregarious nature, always making new friends at every event.
social

A general term to describe someone or something that interacts with others or prefers companionship. It can be applied to both humans and animals.

  • Sarah is very social and enjoys meeting new people.
  • Dolphins are social animals and are often found in pods.
group-living

Refers to animals or people who live together in groups. Commonly used in scientific or ecological contexts.

  • Primates exhibit group-living behaviors to ensure better protection and social interaction.
  • Group-living species, like wolves, rely on cooperation for hunting and care of offspring.
herd-dwelling

Describes animals that live in large groups, often used in relation to wildlife.

  • Herd-dwelling animals like elephants travel together to protect themselves from predators.
  • The herd-dwelling nature of bison makes them more resilient in the face of environmental changes.

Examples of usage

  • She observed the gregarious behavior of the birds, flying together in formation.
  • Deer are known to be gregarious animals, often seen grazing in herds.

Translations

Translations of the word "gregarious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gregário

🇮🇳 मिलनसार

🇩🇪 gesellig

🇮🇩 ramah

🇺🇦 компанійський

🇵🇱 towarzyski

🇯🇵 社交的な

🇫🇷 grégarious

🇪🇸 gregario

🇹🇷 sosyal

🇰🇷 사교적인

🇸🇦 اجتماعي

🇨🇿 společenský

🇸🇰 spoločenský

🇨🇳 群居的

🇸🇮 družaben

🇮🇸 félagslyndur

🇰🇿 қоғамшыл

🇬🇪 საზოგადოებრივი

🇦🇿 ictimai

🇲🇽 gregario

Etymology

The word 'gregarious' comes from the Latin word 'gregarius', which means 'belonging to a flock'. The term was first used in the 17th century to describe animals that lived in flocks. Over time, the meaning expanded to include sociable and outgoing individuals. The concept of gregarious behavior has been studied in various fields, including biology, psychology, and sociology.

See also: gregariousness.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,522, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.