guild

American  

[gild] / gɪld /

Or gild

noun

• guilds
  plural

1. an organization of persons with related interests, goals, etc., especially one formed for mutual aid or protection.

2. any of various medieval associations, as of merchants or artisans, organized to maintain standards and to protect the interests of its members, and that sometimes constituted a local governing body.

3. Botany. a group of plants, as parasites, having a similar habit of growth and nutrition.

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guild British  

/ ɡɪld /

noun

1. an organization, club, or fellowship

2. (esp in medieval Europe) an association of men sharing the same interests, such as merchants or artisans: formed for mutual aid and protection and to maintain craft standards or pursue some other purpose such as communal worship

3. ecology a group of plants, such as a group of epiphytes, that share certain habits or characteristics

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• guilds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of guild

before 1000; Middle English gild ( e ) < Old Norse gildi guild, payment; replacing Old English gegyld guild; akin to German Geld money, Gothic -gild tax

Explanation

Another word for a club, group, or society is guild, meaning a group of people who have joined together in pursuit of a common interest. Many fraternal and theatrical organizations still maintain buildings called guild halls for meetings and activities. The earliest guilds were for religious purposes as burial societies and offering financial support. In the later Middle Ages, they became organizations to support various trades and crafts. As the forerunners of modern unions, they provided support for their members and were charged with assuring quality in each member's products. The word guild comes originally from the Scandinavian, with roots that mean "payment of tribute," similar to the German gelt ("money"), possibly to reflect the dues paid by members.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

guild guilds

The guild said it was forced to settle its own lawsuit because, as a non-profit, it could not afford to fight the merger alone without government support.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

That’s a problem because the bar association is a professional guild for practicing attorneys, whose interests aren’t identical to those of law students or the public.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

The newly ratified contract provides some stability in Hollywood, about three years after a summer of strikes led by Writers Guild of America and performers guild SAG-AFTRA.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

“It was very personal for us, so we made it personal for them,” said Andrew Goldstein, a Post-Gazette reporter and president of the guild.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

It would be easier if we played through with our guild mates, but no one else was online.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

AUTOR: Many professions—such as law and academia—have guilds that are very resistant to change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

Its roots lie in the medieval stonemasons' guilds, and members still meet in "lodges" to carry out secretive initiation rituals and ceremonies.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026

“Sentimental Value” didn’t do well with the guilds, but I think Oscar voters, a much more global group, will come through for it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026

Its roots lie in the medieval stonemasons' guilds, and members still meet in "lodges" to carry out secretive initiation rituals and ceremonies based on allegories such as the building of King Solomon's Temple.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025

To control the practice of their trade, craftsmen banded together to form societies called guilds.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Related Words

• federation