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

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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

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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

Bernal later apologised and reports say he has been removed from his position as president of a Mexican engineering guild.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

Additionally, the contract terms have been extended from the WGA’s usual three years to four — though it is not the first time the guild has added more time to its deal with the studios.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

Smith’s guild contracted with Team Liquid, an esports company, in 2021.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

The women’s art guild turned its hats toward the source of the volcanic sound.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

"Any talent agency that engages in this should be boycotted by all guilds," said Lyonne, who is currently working with "ethical AI" to create a feature film that stars real actors.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2025

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

A coalition of entertainment unions, guilds and groups have sent a letter to President Trump, asking him to support tax provisions that would help Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2025

There were wealthy tradesmen, wearing the emblems of their guilds on their finely woven, rain-soaked sleeves.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

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