club

American  

[kluhb] / klʌb /

noun

clubs plural

1. a heavy stick, usually thicker at one end than at the other, suitable for use as a weapon; a cudgel.

   Synonyms:

   billy, bludgeon

2. a group of persons organized for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose.

   They organized a computer club.

   Synonyms:

   society, association

3. the building or rooms occupied by such a group.

4. an organization that offers its subscribers certain benefits, as discounts, bonuses, or interest, in return for regular purchases or payments.

   a book club; a record club; a Christmas club.

   Synonyms:

   society, association

5. Sports.

   1. a stick or bat used to drive a ball in various games, as golf.

   2. Indian club.

6. a nightclub, especially one in which people dance to popular music, drink, and socialize.

   Last night we went to all the clubs in town.

7. a black trefoil-shaped figure on a playing card.

8. a card bearing such figures.

9. (used with a singular or plural verb) clubs, the suit so marked.

   Clubs is trump. Clubs are trump.

10. club sandwich.

11. Nautical.

    1. a short spar attached to the end of a gaff to allow the clew of a gaff topsail to extend beyond the peak of the gaff.

    2. a short spar attached to the truck of a mast to support the upper part of a club topsail.

    3. clubfoot.

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verb (used with object)

clubs, present (3rd person singular) clubbed, past participle, past clubbing present participle

1. to beat with or as with a club.

   Synonyms:

   cudgel, maul, batter, bludgeon

2. to gather or form into a clublike mass.

3. to unite; combine; join together.

4. to contribute as one's share toward a joint expense; make up by joint contribution (often followed by up ortogether ).

   They clubbed their dollars together to buy the expensive present.

5. to defray by proportional shares.

6. to hold (a rifle, shotgun, etc.) by the barrel, so as to use the stock as a club.

verb (used without object)

clubs, present (3rd person singular) clubbed, past participle, past clubbing present participle

1. Informal. to go to nightclubs, especially to dance, drink, and socialize.

   The students at that university go clubbing every Friday night.

2. to combine or join together, as for a common purpose.

3. to attend a club or a club's activities.

4. to gather into a mass.

5. to contribute to a common fund.

6. Nautical. to drift in a current with an anchor, usually rigged with a spring, dragging or dangling to reduce speed.

adjective

1. of or relating to a club.

2. consisting of a combination of foods offered at the price set on the menu.

   They allow no substitutions on the club luncheon.

club British  

/ klʌb /

noun

1. a stout stick, usually with one end thicker than the other, esp one used as a weapon

2. a stick or bat used to strike the ball in various sports, esp golf See golf club

3. short for Indian club

4. a group or association of people with common aims or interests

   a wine club

5. 1. the room, building, or facilities used by such a group

   2. ( in combination )

      clubhouse

6. a building in which elected, fee-paying members go to meet, dine, read, etc

7. a commercial establishment in which people can drink and dance; disco See also nightclub

8. an organization, esp in a shop, set up as a means of saving

9. an informal word for friendly society

10. 1. the black trefoil symbol on a playing card

    2. a card with one or more of these symbols or ( when pl ) the suit of cards so marked

11. nautical

    1. a spar used for extending the clew of a gaff topsail beyond the peak of the gaff

    2. short for club foot

12. slang pregnant

13. slang away from work due to sickness, esp when receiving sickness benefit

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verb

1. (tr) to beat with or as if with a club

2. (often foll by together) to gather or become gathered into a group

3. (often foll by together) to unite or combine (resources, efforts, etc) for a common purpose

4. (tr) to use (a rifle or similar firearm) as a weapon by holding the barrel and hitting with the butt

5. (intr) nautical to drift in a current, reducing speed by dragging anchor

club Idioms  

1. see join the club.

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Synonym Usage

See circle.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clubbing
  noun
• superclub
  noun
• interclub
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clubs
  plural

Participles

• clubbing
  present
• clubbed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• club
  simple
• clubs
  simple
• have clubbed
  perfect
• has clubbed
  perfect
• am clubbing
  progressive
• are clubbing
  progressive
• is clubbing
  progressive
• have been clubbing
  perfect progressive
• has been clubbing
  perfect progressive

Past

• clubbed
  simple
• had clubbed
  perfect
• was clubbing
  progressive
• were clubbing
  progressive
• had been clubbing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will club
  simple
• will have clubbed
  perfect
• will be clubbing
  progressive
• will have been clubbing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of club

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clubbe, from Old Norse klubba; akin to clump

Explanation

A club is a group of people who share an interest, whether it's playing chess or hiding out in a tree house together. You might join a club if you love to play golf or discuss books with a friendly bunch of people. This kind of club is a formal group — another type is simply a big, heavy stick, or a long metal one used for hitting a golf ball. You can even use it as a verb: "Don't club that snake! Just move it over to the field." The root word is the Old Norse klubba, or "cudgel, club."

Example Sentences

Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, said Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

A strong showing against Atlético de Madrid in the 2025 Club World Cup led to the Spanish club adding him to its roster this February.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

Equinox was a pioneer in luxury fitness, turning the traditional gym into a social club where members pay a premium for status and amenities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

Darius, who was a youth trainee at hometown club Doncaster Rovers and later made 72 appearances for the Blades, said his son was fully committed to training five days a week.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

I tell her that there are some repairs ongoing there, and I don’t want to get in the way, and then I change the subject and ask her about her book club.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• association
• company
• league
• society
• union