peer group

American  

noun

1. a group of people, usually of similar age, background, and social status, with whom a person associates and who are likely to influence the person's beliefs and behavior.

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peer group British  

noun

1. a social group composed of individuals of approximately the same age

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peer group Cultural  

1. A group of people who share certain social characteristics, such as age, class, occupation, or education, and interact on a level of equality. An individual may be a member of several peer groups, including friends, schoolmates, and coworkers. Peer groups are important in socialization, as individuals attempt to conform to the expectations of their peer groups. (See conformity and peer pressure.)

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Etymology

Origin of peer group

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

A Ford spokesman said Farley’s pay reflects overall results, adding that the company’s total return, including dividends, of 42% beat the market and its automaker peer group, while Ford had record revenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The peer group broadly slid as investors fretted over the prospect of higher fuel prices for longer as the war in Iran dragged on.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

“The reality is that, on average, after the age of 80, 5 percent of your peer group die every year,” Scott told me.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

He added that between 10-25% of pupils surveyed "reported having a wide range of negative experiences with their smartphones, from everyday upset arising from peer group squabbles to exposure to harmful and illegal content".

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

When you’re giving evidence in court, you’re unlikely to address the judge with “yaknowwhamean?”; and conversely the language you use in court would cause your peer group back on the street to fall about laughing.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith