Learn about collective nouns with our complete guide. Explore a list of collective nouns, examples of collective nouns in sentences, and 100+ collective nouns for animals, people, and objects.
Introduction
Collective nouns are special words used to describe groups of people, animals, or things. For example, we say a herd of cattle, a pride of lions, or a bunch of keys. In English grammar, collective nouns help us express groups in a simple way. This blog provides a complete list of collective nouns with clear examples of collective nouns in sentences. Whether you are searching for collective nouns for animals, collective nouns for people, or objects, this guide covers them all. You’ll also find 100 examples of collective nouns arranged in easy-to-read tables for better understanding. By the end, you’ll have a strong grasp of how to use collective nouns correctly in everyday English.
What is a Noun?
A noun is simply the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns are the building blocks of sentences and communication.
Examples: dog, school, mountain, happiness.
Types of Nouns
- Proper Noun – Names a specific person/place/thing (India, John, Amazon River).
- Common Noun – General name (city, boy, car).
- Concrete Noun – Something you can see or touch (book, apple).
- Abstract Noun – Ideas/qualities (love, freedom).
- Countable Noun – Can be counted (books, chairs).
- Uncountable Noun – Cannot be counted (milk, information).
- Collective Noun – Represents a group (a pride of lions, a bunch of grapes).
What is a Collective Noun?
A collective noun is a word used for a group of people, animals, or things. Instead of saying “many cows,” we say “a herd of cows.” This makes our language richer and more expressive.
📌 Collective Nouns for Animals
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A pride of lions | A pride of lions was resting under the tree. |
| A herd of cattle | The farmer owned a herd of cattle. |
| A pack of wolves | We saw a pack of wolves hunting together. |
| A swarm of bees | A swarm of bees gathered near the hive. |
| A gaggle of geese | A gaggle of geese flew over the lake. |
| A troop of monkeys | A troop of monkeys played in the forest. |
| A school of fish | A school of fish swam gracefully. |
| A parliament of owls | A parliament of owls sat silently on the branches. |
| A murder of crows | A murder of crows gathered in the field. |
| A bloat of hippos | A bloat of hippos lounged in the river. |
📌 Collective Nouns for People
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A team of players | The team of players trained hard for the match. |
| A class of students | The class of students was very attentive. |
| A band of musicians | A band of musicians played at the concert. |
| A jury of judges | The case was heard by a jury of judges. |
| A crew of sailors | A crew of sailors managed the ship. |
| An army of soldiers | An army of soldiers defended the fort. |
| A staff of teachers | The staff of teachers organized the event. |
📌 Collective Nouns for Objects/Things
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A bunch of keys | He carried a bunch of keys in his hand. |
| A bouquet of flowers | She received a bouquet of flowers on her birthday. |
| A fleet of ships | A fleet of ships left the harbor. |
| A pack of cards | He shuffled a pack of cards. |
| A pile of books | There was a pile of books on the desk. |
| A stack of chairs | A stack of chairs was placed in the corner. |
📌 Collective Nouns for Places
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A range of mountains | The Himalayas are a range of mountains. |
| A chain of islands | Indonesia is a chain of islands. |
| A fleet of vehicles | The company owns a fleet of vehicles. |
| A cluster of houses | We saw a cluster of houses in the valley. |
📌 Collective Nouns for Abstract Ideas
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A series of events | The day was filled with a series of events. |
| A range of emotions | She felt a range of emotions during the ceremony. |
| A body of knowledge | Science is built on a body of knowledge. |
| A wealth of information | The library provides a wealth of information. |
📌Collective Nouns for Birds
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A flock of birds | A flock of birds flew over the trees. |
| A gaggle of geese | A gaggle of geese crossed the road. |
| A colony of penguins | A colony of penguins lived by the icy shore. |
| A flight of swallows | A flight of swallows darted through the sky. |
| A murder of crows | A murder of crows gathered on the field. |
| A parliament of owls | A parliament of owls met in the forest. |
| A bevy of quails | A bevy of quails ran into the bushes. |
| A covey of partridges | A covey of partridges flew from the grass. |
| A muster of peacocks | A muster of peacocks displayed their feathers. |
| A brood of hens | A brood of hens pecked in the yard. |
📌Collective Nouns for Insects
| Collective Noun | Example |
|---|---|
| A swarm of bees | A swarm of bees buzzed around the hive. |
| A colony of ants | A colony of ants marched across the path. |
| A plague of locusts | A plague of locusts destroyed the crops. |
| A cloud of flies | A cloud of flies gathered near the garbage. |
| A cluster of spiders | A cluster of spiders spun webs in the corner. |
| An army of caterpillars | An army of caterpillars ate the leaves. |
| A bike of wasps | A bike of wasps hovered near the nest. |
| A flight of mosquitoes | A flight of mosquitoes buzzed by the river. |
| A scourge of mosquitoes | A scourge of mosquitoes troubled the campers. |
| A horde of midges | A horde of midges filled the air at dusk. |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Collective Nouns
1. What are collective nouns?
Collective nouns are words used to describe a group of people, animals, or things as a single unit. For example, a team of players, a herd of elephants, or a bunch of grapes.
2. What are 10 examples of collective nouns?
Here are 10 common examples of collective nouns:
- A pride of lions
- A herd of cattle
- A swarm of bees
- A flock of birds
- A litter of puppies
- A bouquet of flowers
- A team of players
- A class of students
- A bunch of keys
- A crowd of people
3. What is the list of collective nouns in English?
The list of collective nouns in English is extensive and covers different categories. Some examples include:
- Collective nouns for animals: A colony of ants, a troop of monkeys, a pack of wolves.
- Collective nouns for people: A jury of judges, a panel of experts, a choir of singers.
- Collective nouns for objects: A bundle of sticks, a pile of books, a set of tools.
4. What are 100 examples of collective nouns?
There are over 100 examples of collective nouns, covering people, animals, birds, insects, and objects. For example:
- Animals: A clutter of spiders, a caravan of camels, a gaggle of geese.
- Birds: A flight of swallows, a murder of crows, a parliament of owls.
- People: An army of soldiers, a crowd of spectators, a gang of thieves.
- Objects: A fleet of ships, a series of events, a pack of cards.
You’ll find the complete collective nouns list with 100+ examples in the tables below in this blog.
5. What are collective nouns for animals?
Some of the most popular collective nouns for animals are:
- A pride of lions
- A herd of elephants
- A pack of wolves
- A troop of monkeys
- A colony of ants
- A bloat of hippos
- A litter of cubs
- A swarm of flies
- A gaggle of geese
- A bask of crocodiles