Gregarious: meaning, definitions and examples

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gregarious

[ɡrɪˈɡɛːrɪəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

personality trait

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

Synonyms

friendly, outgoing, social.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

This word comes from the Latin 'gregarius', meaning 'belonging to a flock'.
It’s related to 'gregis', which means 'flock' or 'herd' in Latin, emphasizing togetherness.
The term has been used in English since the early 19th century.

Psychology

Research shows that gregarious individuals often have higher levels of happiness due to social interactions.
Such personality traits can lead to better networking opportunities and relationships, both personally and professionally.
Gregarious people tend to have a larger social support circle, which is linked to improved mental health.

Pop Culture

In movies, gregarious characters are often the life of the party, like the sociable best friend who is always there for comic relief.
Famous gregarious figures include talk show hosts who thrive on engaging with audiences and guests.
Reality TV often showcases gregarious personalities who seek attention and build dramatic interactions.

Biology

Though usually used to describe humans, some animals, like certain birds and fish, exhibit gregarious behavior, living in groups for safety.
In sociology and biology, gregarious species often demonstrate cooperative behavior, increasing survival chances.
Studying gregarious behavior helps scientists understand social structures in both human and animal communities.

Literature

Gregarious characters often appear in novels as those who bring other characters together or provide comedic relief.
Authors have used such characters to explore themes of loneliness and the human need for connection.
In many classic works, gregarious personas can represent contrasts to solitary or introspective characters.

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

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.

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21519 internalization
21520 yam
21521 reincarnation
21522 gregarious
21523 banal
21524 untied
21525 thousandth
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