In linguistics, a collective noun is a word used to define a group of objects, where objects can be

people, animals, emotions, inanimate things, concepts, or other things. For example, in the
phrase "a pride of lions," pride is a collective noun.

Most collective nouns encountered in such as "group," are mundane and are not specific to one
kind of constituent object. For example, the terms "group of people," "group of dogs," and
"group of ideas" are all correct uses. Others, especially words belonging to the large subset of
collective nouns known as terms of venery (words for groups of animals), are specific to one
kind of constituent object. For example, "pride" as a term of venery refers to lions— but not to
dogs or llamas.

Collective nouns should not be confused with mass nouns, or with the collective grammatical
number.

A
Subject Collective Term
ants An army of ants
ants A bike of ants
ants A colony of ants
ants A swarm of ants
antelope A cluster of antelope
antelope A herd of antelope
antelope A tribe of antelope
apes A shrewdness of apes
apes A troop of apes
asses (roped) A coffle of asses
asses (driven) A drove of asses
asses A herd of asses
asses A pace of asses
auks (on land) A colony of auks
auks (at sea) A flock of auks
auks (on water) A raft of auks

[edit] B
Subject Collective Term
baboons A flange of baboons
baboons A congress of baboons
baboons A troop of baboons
baboons A rumpus of baboons
badgers A colony of badgers
badgers A cete of badgers
barnacles A congress of barnacles
bats A cloud of bats
bats A colony of bats
bears A sloth of bears
beavers A colony of beavers
bees An erst of bees
bees A hive of bees
bees A swarm of bees
birds A flock of birds]
birds (in an aviary) A volery of birds
bitterns A siege of bitterns
blackfish A grind of blackfish
boars A singular of boars
boars (wild, 12 or more) A sounder of wild boars
buffalo A gang, herd, or obstinacy of buffalo
bullfinches A bellowing of bullfinches
bullocks A drove of bullocks
butterflies A rabble of butterflies

[edit] C
Subject Collective Term
capercaillie A tok of capercaillie
capons A mews of capons
caribou A herd of caribou
cats A clowder of cats
cats A clutter (or cluster) of cats
cats A glaring of cats
caterpillars An army of caterpillars
cattle A herd of cattle
chickens A brood of chickens
choughs A chattering of choughs
colts A rag of colts
colts A rake of colts
conies A bury of conies
coots A covert of coots
cormorants A flight of cormorants
coyotes A pack of coyotes
cranes A sedge of cranes
crocodiles A bask of crocodiles
crows A hover of crows
crows A murder of crows
[edit] D
Subject Collective Term
deer A bunch of deer[7]
deer A mob of deer[7]
deer A rangale of deer[7]
dogs A kennel of dogs[1]
dogfish A troop of dogfish[7]
dolphins A school of dolphins[1]
dolphins A team of dolphins[7]
dotterel A trip of dotterel[7]
doves A flight of doves[7]
ducks (on water) A bunch of ducks (on water)[7]
ducks (on water) A paddling of ducks (on water)[1]
ducks (on water) A raft of ducks (on water)[7]
ducks A safe of ducks[1]
ducks (in flight) A skein of ducks (in flight)[7]
ducks A sord or sore of ducks[7]
ducks (in flight) A string of ducks (in flight)[7]
ducks (in flight) A team of ducks (in flight)[7]

[edit] E
Subject Collective Term
elephants A herd of elephants[1]
elephants A parade of elephants[1]
elk A gang of elk[1]

[edit] F
Subject Collective Term

ferrets A busyness of ferrets[1]

finches A charm of finches[1]

fish A shoal of fish[1]

fish (drawn, netted or driven) A draft of fish[8]

[edit] G
Subject Collective Term
gingers A flush of gingers[citation needed]
geese (on land) A gaggle of geese[1]
geese (in flight) A skein of geese[1]
gnats A cloud of gnats[1]
gnats A ghost of gnats
goats A trip of goats[1]
goldfish A troubling of goldfish[citation needed]
goldfish A glint of goldfish[citation needed]
gorillas A band of gorillas[1]
grouse A pack of grouse[1]

[edit] H
Subject Collective Term
hares A down of hares[1]
hares A mute of hares[1]
herons A siege of herons[1]
hippopotamuses A bloat of hippopotamuses[1]
horses A drove of horses[1]
horses A string of horses[1]
hounds A cry of hounds[1]
hounds A pack of hounds[1]

impediments A vagary of impediments[citation needed]

[edit] J
Subject Collective term
jays A party of jays[citation needed]
jays A scold of jays[citation needed]
jays A band of jays[citation needed]
jellyfish A smack of jellyfish[citation needed]
jugglers A neverthriving of jugglers[citation needed]

[edit] K
Subject Collective term
kite (bird)s A brood of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s An eyrie of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s A roost of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s A kettle of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s A stooping of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s A soar of kites[citation needed]
kite (bird)s A string of kites[citation needed]
kittens (cats) A kindle of kittens[citation needed]
kittens (cats) A smattering of kittens[citation needed]
kittens (rabbits) A wrack of kittens[citation needed]
knights A rout of knights[citation needed]
knights A banner of knights[citation needed]

[edit] L
Subject Collective term
ladies A bevy of ladies[citation needed]
lambs A fall of lambs[citation needed]
lapwings A desert of lapwings[citation needed]
lapwings A deceit of lapwings[citation needed]
larks An ascension of larks[citation needed]
larks An exaltation of larks[citation needed]
leopards A leap of leopards[citation needed]
leopards A spot of leopards[citation needed]
lions A pride of lions[citation needed]
lions A sault of lions[citation needed]
locusts A plague of locusts[citation needed]
lorries A convoy of lorries[citation needed]

[edit] M
Subject Collective term
magpies A steal of magpies[citation needed]
magpies A tiding(s) of magpies[citation needed]
mallards A sord of mallards[citation needed]
mallards A lute of mallards[citation needed]
martens A richness of martens[citation needed]
matrons A riches of matrons[citation needed]
moles A labour of moles[citation needed]
moles A company of moles[citation needed]
moles A movement of moles[citation needed]
monitors A bank of monitors[citation needed]
monks An abomination of monks[citation needed]
monkeys A circus of monkeys[citation needed]
monkeys A tribe of monkeys[citation needed]
monkeys A troop of monkeys[citation needed]
monkeys A mission of monkeys[citation needed]
mourners A cortege of mourners[citation needed]
mosquitoes A scourge of mosquitoes[citation needed]
mice A mischief of mice[citation needed]
mudhen A fleet of mudhen[citation needed]
mules A barren of mules[citation needed]
mules A rake of mules[citation needed]

[edit] N
Subject Collective term
natives A tribe of natives[citation needed]
nightingales A watch of nightingales[citation needed]

[edit] O
Subject Collective term
otters A bevy of otters[citation needed]
otters A romp of otters[citation needed]
owls A parliament of owls[citation needed]
owls A stare of owls[citation needed]
oxen A team of oxen[citation needed]
oxen A span of oxen[citation needed]
oysters (young) A set of young oysters[citation needed]

[edit] P
Subject Collective term
parrots A pandemonium of parrots[citation needed]
parrots A company of parrots[citation needed]
partridges A covey of partridges[citation needed]
partridges A bew of partridges[citation needed]
peacocks A pride of peacocks[citation needed]
peacocks A muster of peacocks[citation needed]
peacocks An ostentation of peacocks[citation needed]
pekingese A pomp of Pekingese[citation needed]
penguins A parcel of penguins[citation needed]
penguins A rookery of penguins[citation needed]
penguins A creche of penguins[citation needed]
penguins A huddle of penguins[citation needed]
penguins A colony of penguins[citation needed]
performers A troupe of performers[citation needed]
pheasants A covey of pheasants[citation needed]
pheasants A nye of pheasants[citation needed]
pheasants A bouquet of pheasants[citation needed]
physicians A college of physicians[citation needed]
piglets A farrow of piglets[citation needed]
piglets A waltz of piglets[citation needed]
platypi An implausibility of platypi[citation needed]
pigs A drove of pigs[citation needed]
pigs A fleet of pigs[citation needed]
pigs A herd of pigs[citation needed]
pigs A sounder of pigs[citation needed]
pigeons A kit of pigeons[citation needed]
pigeons A loft of pigeons[citation needed]
plovers A congregation of plovers[citation needed]
polar bears An aurora of polar bears[citation needed]
polecats A chine of polecats[citation needed]
ponies A string of ponies[citation needed]
porpoises A school of porpoises[citation needed]
porpoises A turmoil of porpoises[citation needed]
possum A passel of possum[citation needed]

[edit] Q
Subject Collective term
quail A covey of quail[citation needed]

[edit] R
SUBJECT COLLECTIVE TERM
raccoons A gaze of raccoons[citation needed]
rats A pack of rats[citation needed]
rats A rabble of rats[citation needed]
ravens An unkindness of ravens[citation needed]
ravens A conspiracy of ravens[citation needed]
rhinoceroses A crash of rhinoceroses[citation needed]
roes A bevy of roes[citation needed]
rooks A building of rooks[citation needed]
rooks A clamour of rooks[citation needed]
rooks A parliament of rooks[citation needed]
ruffs A hill of ruffs[citation needed]

[edit] S
Subject Collective term
salmon A run of salmon[citation needed]
salmon A bind of salmon[citation needed]
sandpipers A fling of sandpipers[citation needed]
satellites A constellation of satellites[citation needed]
sea fowl A cloud of sea fowl[citation needed]
seagulls A flock of seagulls[citation needed]
seals A spring of seals[citation needed]
seals A pod of seals[citation needed]
seals A plum of seals[citation needed]
servants An obeisance of servants[citation needed]
sharks A shiver of sharks[citation needed]
sheep A flock of sheep[citation needed]
sheldrakes A doading of sheldrakes[citation needed]
show dogs A bench of show dogs[citation needed]
skanks A swathe of skanks[citation needed]
snails A rout of snails[citation needed]
snipe A walk of snipe[citation needed]
snipe A wisp of snipe[citation needed]
sparrows A ubiquity of sparrows[citation needed]
sparrows A quarrel of sparrows[citation needed]
sparrows A host of sparrows[citation needed]
spiders A clutter of spiders[citation needed]
spiders A cluster of spiders[citation needed]
squirrels A dray of squirrels[citation needed]
staples A troop of staples[citation needed]
starlings A murmuration of starlings[citation needed]
stick insects A bushel of stick insects[citation needed]
storks A muster of storks[citation needed]
storks A phalanx of storks[citation needed]
swallows A flight of swallows[citation needed]
swallows A gulp of swallows[citation needed]
swans (flying) A wedge of swans[citation needed]
swans A gaggle of swans[citation needed]
swans A whiteness of swans[citation needed]
swans A bevy of swans[citation needed]
swans A bank of swans[citation needed]
swans An eyrar of swans[citation needed]
swine A sounder of swine[citation needed]
swine A drift of swine[citation needed]

[edit] T
Subject Collective term
teal A spring of teal[citation needed]
teal A diving of teal[citation needed]
thrushes A mutation of thrushes[citation needed]
tigers A streak of tigers[citation needed]
tigers An ambush of tigers[citation needed]
toads A knot of toads[citation needed]
tourists A flock of tourists[citation needed]
troops A parel of troops[citation needed]
trout A hover of trout[citation needed]
turkeys A flock of turkeys[citation needed]
turkeys A rafter of turkeys[citation needed]
turkeys A raffle of turkeys[citation needed]
turtles A turn of turtles[citation needed]
turtles A dule of turtles[citation needed]
turtles A bale of turtles[citation needed]
turtledoves A pitying of turtledoves[citation needed]

[edit] V
Subject Collective term
vipers A nest of vipers. [1]

[edit] W
Subject Collective term
walruses A herd of walruses[citation needed]
waterfowl A plump of waterfowl[citation needed]
waterfowl A knob of waterfowl[citation needed]
weasels A sneak of weasels[citation needed]
whales A school of whales[citation needed]
whales A herd of whales[citation needed]
whales A pod of whales[citation needed]
whales A gam of whales[citation needed]
widgeon A coil of widgeon[citation needed]
witches A coven of witches[citation needed]
wolves A pack of wolves[citation needed]
wolves A rout of wolves[citation needed]
woodpeckers A descent of woodpeckers[citation needed]
worms A clew of worms[citation needed]

[edit] Y
Subject Collective term
yeomen A fellowship of yeomen[citation needed]

[edit] Z
Subject Collective term
zebra A herd of zebra[citation needed]
zebra A dazzle of zebra[citation needed]
zombie A horde of zombies[citation needed]
zombie A plague of zombies[c