comrade

American  

[kom-rad, -ruhd] / ˈkɒm ræd, -rəd /

noun

1. a person who shares in one's activities, occupation, etc.; companion, associate, or friend.

   Synonyms:

   mate, fellow, crony

2. a fellow member of a fraternal group, political party, etc.

3. a member of the Communist Party or someone with strongly leftist views.

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comrade British  

/ -rɪd, ˈkɒmreɪd /

noun

1. an associate or companion

2. a fellow member of a political party, esp a fellow Communist or socialist

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Other Word Forms

• comradely adjective
• comradeship noun

Etymology

Origin of comrade

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French camarade, from Spanish camarada “group of soldiers billeted together,” equivalent to cámar(a) “room” (from Latin; camera ¹ ) + -ada, from Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate ¹ )

Example Sentences

She made Will Ruger, Mr. Caldwell’s ideological comrade, a deputy director.

From The Wall Street Journal

An advertisement for the train service, in Korean and Mandarin, touted a new chapter in bilateral relations with the greeting: “Welcome, Chinese comrades!”

From The Wall Street Journal

And when troops return, artists are busy inking tributes to fallen comrades.

From Los Angeles Times

I would like to think of myself as a comrade.

From Literature

His comrades have been slowly picked off, and without human connections he has further transformed into a hunted animal, driven to elude his pursuers purely by “anger and desperation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• buddy
• co-worker
• colleague
• companion
• compatriot
• confidant
• crony