Collective nouns for people

This page lists the collective nouns used for groups of people. Some of these terms are very old, while others are newer and have become accepted after growing in use.

Many of the collective nouns for people are based around occupations and professions, while others are based of family, gender, nationality and other areas.

If any collective nouns are missing or need editing, please leave a comment using the form at the bottom of the page.

Group Collective Nouns
Academics Faculty
Acrobats Troupe
Actors Cast, Company, Condescension, Cry, Queue
Actresses Entrance
Aldermen Bench
Arsonists Conflagration
Artistes Troupe
Athletes Team
Bakers Tabernacle
Barbers Babble
Barmen Promise
Barons Thought
Barristers Boast, Wiggery
Bastards Shower
Beaters Squad
Beauties Beavy, Galaxy
Beggars Fighting
Bishops Bench, Psalter, Sea
Boys Plush, Rascal
Boy Scouts Troop
Brewers Feast
Brownies Pack
Bureaucrats Shuffle
Butchers Goring
Butlers Sneer
Candidates Slate
Canons Chapter, Dignity
Capitalists Company, Syndicate
Cardinals College
Carpenters Pound
Catholics Mass
Censors Gaggle
Cheerleaders Array
Chess Players Board, Brood
Churchgoers Congregation
Clerks Rookery, School
Clowns Alley, Pratfall
Cobblers Cutting, Drunkship
Comedians Gaggle, Riot
Communists Colhose
Cooks Hastiness
Cowboys Cavvy, Saunter
Critics Shrivel
Curs Cowardice
Dancers Troupe, Flight (male), Float (female)
Deans Decanter, Decorum
Decorators Tantrum
Dentists Amalgam, Brace, Wwince
Dermatologists Rash
Designers Set, Subtlety
Directors Board
Doctors Doctrine
Dons Obstruction
Drummers Asylum, Fagot, Roll
Employees Staff
Englishmen Pound
Equestrians Prance
Experts Discord, Panel
Fishermen Drift, Exaggeration, Grumble, Sulk
Followers Trail
Foresters Stalk
Frenchmen Peck
Friends Party
Gamblers Talent
Generals Glitter
Geneticists Helix
Geologists Conglomerate, Formation
Geometrists Plane
Germans Gross
Girl Guides Company
Girls Giggle
Golfers Lie, Tedium
Goons Plunder
Gossips Gaggle
Gossip columnists Slither
Governesses Galaxy
Graduate students Fortitude
Grammarians Conjunction
Grandparents Nag, Wisdom
Groupies Grope
Gym instructors Set
Gymnasts Troupe
Gynaecologists Smear
Gypsies Store




Hackers Cruft
Hairdressers Set, Swish
Harlots Herd
Harpists Melody
Hedonists Debauchery
Heirs Expectation
Hermits Observance
Hippies Trip
Hobos Flagon
Homosexuals Ensemble
Hoodlums Gang
Horsemen Cavalcade
Hunters Blast
Husbands Multiply, Unhappiness
Impressionists Blur
In-laws Imposition
Interpreters Tounge
Irishmen Pint
Italians Explosion
Joggers Wheeze
Journalists Scoop, Slant
Judges Bench, Sentence
Jugglers Neverthriving
Jurors Damning
Knights Banner, Rout
Ladies Bevy
Lawyers Disputation, Eloquence, Escheat, Greed, Huddle, Quarrel
Lecturers Drift
Lepers Colony
Lesbians Tough
Liberals Pink
Librarians Catalogue, Stack, Shush
Listeners Audience
Magicians Illusion
Magistrates Bench
Mathematicians Number, Set
Matrons Riches
Majors Morbidity
Meatheads Density
Mechanics Clutch, Torque
Men Band
Merchants Faith
Messengers Diligence
Metallurgists Amalgamation
Meteorologists Shower
Microbiologists Colony
Midwives Expectation
Minstrels Troupe
Models Slouch
Monks Abominable Sight
Mothers Cconsternation
Mothers-in-law Mutter
Mourners Cortege
Musicians Band, Orchestra
Narcissists Mug, Reflection
Natives Tribe
Nazis Jungle
Nieces Squeal
Northerners Freeze
Nuns Convent, Murmur, Flap, Pray, Superfluity
Nymphomaniacs Spread
Officers Mess, Execution
Onlookers Crowd
Orthodontists Brace
Orthopaedists Brace, Cast
Osteopaths Joint
Painters Curse, Illusion, Misbelieving
Paparazzi Flash
Parents Embarrassment, Persistence
Pathologists Body
Patients Virtue
Pedlars Malapertness
People Audience, Crowd, Mob
Percussionist Meter




Performers Troupe/Troup
Philosophers Confiusion, Ponder
Photographers Clique, Snap
Physicians College
Physicists Nucleus
Pianists Pound
Pilots Crew, Yoke
Pipers Skirl
Plumbers Flood, Flush
Poets Iamb, Obsucurity, Rhyme
Police Posse
Politicians Lie, Equivocation, Odium
Preachers Converting,  Pontification
Priests Discretion, Lechery, Mass, superfluity
Prisoners Gang, Pity
Professors Pomposity
Programmers Archive, Bloat (Microsoft)
Prostitutes Anthology, Stable, Whored
Psychoanalysts Complex
Psychologists Complex
Public speakers Twaddle
Pyromaniacs Blaze, Conflagration
Radiologists Series
Refugees Flight
Reviewers Pan
Rioters Melee
Robbers Band
Sailors Crew, Deck
Salesmen Sample
Schoolboys Rout
Scots Clan, Disworship
Seamstresses Scolding
Senators House
Sergeants-at-law Subtlety
Servants Obeisance
Shepherds Sodom
Sheriffs Posse
Shoemakers Blackening
Shoppers Crush
Singers Choir
Smokers Billow, Hack
Soldiers Army, Brigade, Company, Division, Muster, Platoon, Troop
Students Class
Subalterns Simplicity
Swingers Bed
Tailors Disguising, Proud Showing
Teachers Quiz
Taverners Glozing
Teenagers Attitude, Grunt
Thieves Den, Gang , Skulk
Tree surgeons Graft
Trustees Board
Tourists Flock
Undertakers Unction
Vegetarians Sprig
Vicars Prudence
Waiters Absence, Indifference, Order
Walkers Amble
Webmasters Linkage, Net
Widows Ambush
Witches Coven
Wives Impatience
Women Gaggle
Workmen Gang
Worshippers Congregation
Wrestlers Clutch, Crunch
Writers Worship
Yeoman Fellowship
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    167 thoughts on “Collective nouns for people

    1. Barristers – less than 5: A “Fee” of Barristers – for more than 5 Barristers – An “Extortionate Fee” of Barristers

    2. A recommendation of consultants? [consultants are always recommending further actions, research, reports which will entail additional employment and, or remuneration for the consultant.

      A measure of engineers?

    3. What about artists? a chaos? a clutter? a mess? an intelligence? (teehee)
      There’s also none for sculptors.

    4. Alternative collective noun for tourists – that I have actually heard used! – a confusion of tourists

    5. Umm..is there a word or phrase

      A tribe of nayive people?
      Plss answer me..i need you answer before tomorrow..its 6:55 pm here..byee

    6. And finally [?] ….a what of publicans? [I could do with an answer for a book I’m writing.]
      A Bar of publicans? A Round of publicans maybe?
      Or is there a “proper” answer??

    7. For me, as a writer, the collective noun “worship” relates more to an ecclesiastical group and has religious overtones. I propose a group writers be called a “quill”!

    8. I thought it was a boast of soldiers and a flourish of strumpets (herd of harlots is vulgar), although muster is good.

      An impatience of wives and an unhappiness of husbands is sad, as is an ambush of widows (what, no widowers?).

    9. How about a Confusion of Polititians
      Also a Confusion of Managers, but then they can also be confused on their own.

    10. I am trying to find the word for a collection or group of painters, and the adjective derived from it. Any suggestions?

      David T-C.

    11. they didn’t write about few animals/people.

      -golf clubs
      -trees
      -thieves
      -wolves
      Please answer down below if you know the answers to a group of golf clubs.
      THANKS!!

    12. A progress of atheists.
      A black hole of depressed people.
      A forrest of environmentalists.
      A waste of kings.

    13. A Cacophony of speakers (given most parliamentarians forget they have a microphone so tend to shout into it)

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