gregarious
/ɡrɪˈɡɛər.i.əs/- 1.
Describes a person who loves being around other people and enjoys social situations. A gregarious person is energetic and enthusiastic in groups, not just politely friendly.
- She was so gregarious that she made friends everywhere she went.
- His gregarious personality made him the life of every party.
- The gregarious student always gathered a crowd during lunch breaks.
- 2.
In biology, describes animals or plants that naturally live or grow in groups rather than alone.
- Elephants are gregarious animals that live in tight family herds.
- Wolves are gregarious creatures and rarely survive well in isolation.
Adinary Nuance
Gregarious sits in a cluster with outgoing, sociable, extroverted, and convivial — but they are not identical. "Outgoing" is the everyday casual choice: natural, warm, and approachable. "Sociable" suggests someone who is pleasant and easy to talk to, but without necessarily seeking out large groups. "Gregarious" is the strongest of the three — it implies an active, enthusiastic hunger for group company, almost a need to be surrounded by people. In IELTS and academic writing, "gregarious" signals a higher vocabulary register and is a better word than "outgoing" when you want to sound precise and sophisticated. Avoid confusing it with "extroverted," which is a psychological term about where a person draws energy; "gregarious" is about social behaviour and enjoyment, not personality theory.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hòa đồng
- Spanish
- sociable
- Chinese
- 爱社交
- Japanese
- 社交的
- Korean
- 사교적
Etymology
From Latin "gregarius," meaning "belonging to a flock," derived from "grex" (a flock or herd). It entered English in the mid-17th century, first describing animals that flock together, and later extended to people who seek social company.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'gregarious' and 'outgoing'?
- 'Outgoing' is a casual, everyday word for someone who is warm and approachable. 'Gregarious' is stronger and more formal — it suggests a deep, enthusiastic love of being in groups. In IELTS essays or academic writing, 'gregarious' is the better choice.
- Is 'gregarious' a formal or informal word?
- 'Gregarious' is a formal to semi-formal word. It is appropriate in academic writing, IELTS essays, and professional contexts. In casual speech, most native speakers would say 'outgoing' or 'sociable' instead.
- Can 'gregarious' describe animals?
- Yes. In biology and scientific writing, 'gregarious' is used to describe species that live in groups or herds, such as elephants, wolves, and starlings. This is actually the word's original meaning from its Latin roots.
- How can I use 'gregarious' in an IELTS essay?
- You can use it to describe human social behaviour or group-living in nature. For example: 'Humans are inherently gregarious beings who rely on community for well-being.' It signals a strong academic vocabulary and can improve your lexical resource score.