esprit de corps

American  

[e-spree duh kawr] / ɛˈspri də ˈkɔr /

noun

1. a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, enterprise, etc.

   Synonyms:

   fellowship, solidarity, bonding, camaraderie

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esprit de corps British  

/ ɛˈspriː də ˈkɔː, ɛspri də kɔr /

noun

1. consciousness of and pride in belonging to a particular group; the sense of shared purpose and fellowship

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esprit de corps Cultural  

1. The feeling of camaraderie among members of a group or an organization: “The campers have been together for only one week, but they are already bound by a strong esprit de corps.” From French, meaning “group spirit.”

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Etymology

Origin of esprit de corps

First recorded in 1770–80; from French: literally, “group spirit”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

esprit de corps

Steve Jobs’s pirate flag celebrated a certain rebellious esprit de corps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

The president told NBC News it would be an exercise in generating some "esprit de corps" - suggesting that he saw an opportunity to galvanise his troops.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2025

“I think there’s certainly an esprit de corps, a unity, a camaraderie that comes from going through an experience like this,” Lee said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2025

“When I look at the people that I met there and the structure and the camaraderie, it’s like we really had an esprit de corps there,” said Collick, 71.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2022

In 1928, when I was nine, I belonged, with maximum esprit de corps, to an organization known as the Comanche Club.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger