classmate

American  

[klas-meyt, klahs-] / ˈklæsˌmeɪt, ˈklɑs- /

noun

1. a member of the same class at a school or college.

---

classmate British  

/ ˈklɑːsˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a friend or contemporary of the same class in a school, college, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of classmate

An Americanism dating back to 1705–15; class + mate ¹

Explanation

Your classmate is someone who goes to school with you. It's hard to believe when you first start college that some of your classmates will become your very best friends. Your school friends are your classmates, and so are the fellow students you barely know at all. In a small class, you get to know most of your classmates fairly well, while in a large lecture even your teacher might not know all your classmates' names. The word dates from the 18th century, a combination of class, from the Latin classis, "class or division," and mate, "fellow or comrade."

Example Sentences

Rather, I’d say scrolling the subreddit is like auditing a university science course where the professor prioritizes discussion, and every classmate is, for once, eager to put their hand in the air.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

It was those drawings that caught the eye of Geisel's classmate, and fellow American, Helen Palmer.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Students seemed to conclude that an AI bot was a more convenient classmate than a human, and it showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

The show follows three childhood friends whose very different lives converge at a wake for a former classmate in rural Ireland.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

While I scraped plates and massaged migraines, she practiced dance steps with our classmate Farah.

From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed

Related Words

• acquaintance
• bride
• buddy
• companion
• comrade
• coworker
• playmate
• roommate
• schoolmate
• spouse