What Is a Collective Noun?

A collective noun is a naming word used to refer to a group or number of animals,

people or things. One thing you should remember when you use collective nouns in
sentences is to use the right form of the verb.

Examples of Collective Nouns

Here are some examples of collective nouns.

Collective Nouns for Animals

 Collective noun for bees – Swarm

 Collective noun for fish – Shoal or School
 Collective noun for sheep – Herd
 Collective noun for ships – Fleet
 Collective noun for birds – Flock
 Collective noun for lions – Pride
 Collective noun for wolves – Pack
 Collective noun for ants – Colony

Collective Nouns for People

 Collective noun for actors – Troupe, Company or Cast

 Collective noun for soldiers – Army
 Collective noun for musicians – Band
 Collective noun for warriors – Troop
 Collective noun for directors – Board
 Collective noun for sailors – Crew
 Collective noun for singers – Choir
 Collective noun for dancers – Group
 Collective noun for thieves – Pack
 Collective noun for players – Team
 Collective noun for delegates – Delegation
 Collective noun for judges – Panel or Bench

Collective Nouns for Objects/Things

 Collective noun for cards – Deck/Pack

 Collective noun for cigarettes – Packet
 Collective noun for mountains – Range
 Collective noun for apples – Bushel
 Collective noun for bananas – Comb
 Collective noun for grapes – Bunch
  Collective noun for flowers – Bunch or Bouquet
 Collective noun for trees – Grove or Forest

Collective Nouns for Baboons

Baboons are large monkeys that resemble human beings in many aspects. There are
four different species of baboons namely, yellow, olive, chacma and Guinea. They
live in large numbers and they are commonly called troops. They stay with their
particular troop; sleep and play together and protect each other.

Take a look at the following collective nouns for baboons and also learn how they are
used.

Troop of Baboons
To refer to the group of baboons, we can use the term troop to refer to a large
number of baboons. Refer to the examples provided below to understand the usage
of the term troop.

Troop + preposition + baboons

Troop of Baboons

Examples:

 The little children are fighting like a troop of baboons in the field.
 A troop of baboons entered the jungle.

Flange of Baboons
Baboons are primates, and they are very different from other mammals. One of the
most common collective nouns that can be used for a group of baboons is a flange.
Check the examples provided below to understand the usage of the term.

Flange + preposition + baboons

Flange of baboons

Examples:

 The flange of baboons is the major tourist attraction of the zoo.

 Be very careful as the area is always full of flanges of baboons.
Band of Baboons
The term ‘band’ is another collective noun used for baboons. You would find the
usage of this collective noun in the movie, ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’.
Professor McGonagall says, “I will not have you, in the course of a single evening,
besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons!”

Check the examples provided below to understand the usage of the term.

Band + preposition + baboons

Band of baboons

Examples:

 Oh no! A band of baboons are attacking my snowman. I don’t want to lose it.
 The children were running around like a band of baboons.

Tribe of Baboons
‘Tribe’ is another collective noun used to describe a large number of baboons. A
group of baboons can be referred to as a tribe, even though their social behaviour is
not as complicated as that of human tribes. In the tribe, there are leaders and others
who play important roles.

Tribe + preposition + baboons

Tribe of baboons

Examples:

 The documentary is based on the social behaviour of a tribe of baboons.

 There is a huge tribe of baboons in the middle of the jungle.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns of

Baboons
Q1
What are the various collective nouns for baboons?
The various collective nouns for baboons are troop, flange, band and tribe. These
collective nouns can be used for a large number of baboons, depending on the
context.
Q2
What are the most commonly used collective nouns for
baboons?
The most commonly used collective nouns for baboons are troop and tribe.

Collective Nouns for Cars

The collective nouns for cars have been mentioned below with various examples. Go
through them.

Fleet of Cars
The term ‘fleet’ can be used to refer to a large number of cars. Check the below-
provided examples to understand the usage of the term.

Fleet + preposition + cars

Fleet of cars

Examples:

 The Government office has ordered a fleet of new cars. I wonder who will use
them.
 It looks like the fleet of cars needs maintenance.

Stack of Cars
A stack is another collective noun used for a number of cars. When there are a large
number of cars which are not in order, we can use the term stack. Refer to the
examples provided below to understand how they are used in sentences.

Stack + preposition + cars

Stack of cars

Examples:

 There was a stack of cars in the junkyard.

 There is an investigation going on about the stack of cars.

Line of Cars
Of the various collective nouns used for a number of cars, we can use the term ‘line’
for cars lined up together. Refer to the examples provided below to better
understand the meaning and usage of the term.
Line + preposition + cars

Line of cars

Examples:

 How can I find your car from this long line of cars?
 My drone shot could only click the picture of the line of cars.

Horde of Cars
“Horde” is another word for a number of automobiles. It is used to denote a large
number of cars, such as in traffic congestion. Refer to the examples provided below
to understand the term better.

Horde + preposition + cars

Horde of cars

Examples:

 There is a horde of cars in the junkyard.

 This movie is quite interesting. It has only used a horde of rusted cars.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Cars
Q1
What are the various collective nouns for cars?
The various collective nouns used for cars are fleet, stack, line and horde.
Q2
Which is the most commonly used collective noun for cars?
The most commonly used collective noun for cars is fleet.

Collective Nouns for Crows

Flock of Crows
The most commonly used collective noun for animals can be “herd”, and similarly,
the most commonly used collective noun for birds can be “flock”. The collective noun
“flock” can be used for the number of crows which are seen flying. The word flock is
not only used for crows but for various other types of birds as well.

Flock + preposition + crows

Example

 A flock of crows are seen around the pot.

 A flock of crows were seen flying under the red sky.

Horde of Crows
When the word ‘horde’ is used by itself, it refers to a big group or herd. When you
see a lot of crows but don’t see much of their activity, you can use the term horde.

Example

 A garden is a beautiful place, but the horde of crows adds more beauty to the
site.
 I have painted a horde of crows on the canvas.

Muster of Crows
The collective noun ‘muster’ can also be used for a group of crows.

Example

 A muster of crows was seen heading towards the dead dog.

 A muster of crows looks absolutely stunning while sitting on the rooftop.

Other Collective Nouns for Crows

Other than these words, there are other popular collective nouns which can be used
for a group of crows.

 Brood
 Caldron
 Clan
 Company

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Crows
Q1
What are the different collective nouns for crows?
To represent a group of crows, the collective nouns that can be used are muster,
flock, horde, brood, clan, etc.
Q2
Why is it essential to learn the various types of collective
nouns?
It is essential to learn the different types of collective nouns because it helps in
building a strong vocabulary.

Collective Nouns for Dogs

Pack of Dogs
Animals are mostly seen in groups, and the same goes for dogs. The phrase ‘a pack
of dogs’ can be used for a group of dogs.

Pack + preposition + dogs

Pack of dogs

Examples

 A pack of dogs started chasing me in the middle of the forest.

 I love dogs, but a pack of dogs is scary at times.

Kennel of Dogs
Apart from ‘pack’, another word that can be used to represent a group of dogs is
‘kennel’. The word ‘kennel’ is often used for small hut-like houses in gardens for the
dogs to live in. It is mostly used to refer to pet dogs.

Kennel + preposition + dogs

Kennel of dogs

Examples

 My friend has a kennel of dogs in her house, and she takes good care of them.
 The kennel of dogs is being trained by my elder brother.

Litter
The word ‘litter’ is used to refer to a number of puppies and not dogs.

Litter + preposition + puppies

Litter of puppies

Examples

 My friend has a litter of puppies in her villa, so I am planning to visit them.

  I have a painting of a litter of puppies at my home.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Dogs
Q1
What are the various collective nouns for dogs?
The collective nouns for dogs are litter, kennel, pack, etc.
Q2
When can we call a group of dogs ‘a pack’?
We can use the phrase ‘a pack of dogs’ when they are seen in packs (groups),
especially wild dogs.

Collective Nouns for Hay

Bundle of Hay
Hay can never be found in a single piece. We have always seen hay in bundles, and
therefore to represent a lot of hay, we can call it a bundle of hay.

Bundle + preposition + hay

Bundle of hay

Examples:

 We found a bundle of hay inside the truck.

 They need a bundle of hay for the cows.

Stack of Hay
A rectangular or cylindrical pile of hay can be called a stack of hay. To understand
the proper meaning and usage of a stack of hay, refer to the examples provided
below.

Stack + preposition + hay

Stack of hay

Examples:

 The boys have burnt a stack of hay in the backyard.

  The cattle were seen sleeping by a stack of hay.

Bale of Hay
The word ‘bale’ can be used for hay when it is found in a large bound bundle. To
understand the usage of the word, refer to the examples provided below.

Bale + preposition + hay

Bale of hay

Example:

 Bales of hay are transported using large trucks.

 The farmers are carrying a bale of hay each on their backs.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Hay
Q1
What are the collective nouns for hay?
The collective nouns used for hay are bale, stack, bundle, etc.

Collective Noun for Lions

Pride of Lions
The common word used to denote a group of lions is “pride”. The word ‘pride’ has
different meanings. As an abstract noun, it refers to the feeling of satisfaction one
gets from one’s own achievements. As a collective noun, it refers to a group of lions.
Lions are usually found with their families and are always together. Therefore, to
describe the lions who are together, we can use the term ‘pride’ and refer to them as
a pride of lions. It can include two to forty lions. The word pride can be used as,

Pride + preposition + lions

Pride + of + lions

Examples:

1. The pride of lions were resting calmly.

2. There is a pride of lions roaming in the middle of the forest.
Coalition of Lions
When a group of male lions get together, they are referred to as a coalition of lions.
A coalition can have around two to six or seven male lions, often from the same
pride. Lions in a coalition protect each other from being attacked by other lions and
also try to gain supremacy over other prides. You must have come across the
infamous Mapogo lion coalition (a group of 6 lions), which took over the Sobi Sands
region of the Kruger National Park in South Africa by killing almost a hundred lions.

The usage of the collective noun ‘coalition’ is as follows.

Coalition + preposition + lions

Coalition of lions

Examples:

1. The coalition of lions had killed more than fifty lions.

2. We saw a coalition of lions attacking another lion when we went on our safari.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Lions
Q1
What can be the collective nouns for lions?
The collective nouns used for a group of lions are pride and coalition.
Q2
Which is the collective noun for male lions?
To describe a group of male lions, it is best to use the term ‘coalition’.

Collective Nouns for Pearls

Rope of Pearls
Pearl is one of the most elegant and precious materials used in jewellery. Pearls are
used in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. We can use the term ‘rope’ when a
number of pearls are arranged in a string.

Rope + preposition + pearls

Rope of pearls

Example:
  It is difficult to choose from among the rope of pearls.
 The rope of pearls looks so beautiful on the edges of the mirror.

String of Pearls
A string of pearls can refer to pearls which are arranged in a long string. Given below
are examples to help you understand how the term is used. Check them out.

String + preposition + pearls

String of pearls

Examples:

 I gave her a string of pearls which she could use to decorate the house.
 The string of pearls looks so elegant and shiny.

Cluster of Pearls
The term ‘cluster’ can also be used to describe a collection of pearls. The term is
usually used to refer to things which are in a group. Check the examples provided
below for your reference.

Cluster + preposition + pearls

Cluster of pearls

Examples:

 The woman has got a cluster of pearls which are pure.

 The cluster of pearls looks rusty and faded.

Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for

Pearls
Q1
What are the various collective nouns used for pearls?
The collective nouns used for pearls are cluster, rope and string.
Q2
Which is the best collective noun used for a large chain of
pearls?
The best collective noun you can use would be ‘string’.

Collective Nouns for Penguins

Penguins live in the cold areas of the southern hemisphere. They stay away from
people and are always found in the company of other penguins. You must have seen
penguins on TV and noticed that they are never found alone.

Here are some collective nouns for penguins; go through them and learn how to use
them correctly.

Raft of Penguins
To refer to a group of penguins, there are a lot of collective nouns, and one such
collective noun is ‘raft’. The term can be used for a group of penguins seen in the
water. To understand the usage of the term, check the examples provided below.

Raft + preposition + penguins

Raft of penguins

Examples:

 It is beautiful to look at the raft of penguins diving into the deep sea.
 The girl seems to be very happy looking at the raft of penguins.

Waddle of Penguins
Penguins are seabirds but are not always seen in the water. They nest and spend a
lot of time on land. When you see a lot of penguins together on land, you can use the
term ‘waddle’ to refer to the group of penguins. Check the examples provided below
to understand the usage of the term.

Waddle + preposition + penguins

Waddle of penguins

Examples:

 The waddle of penguins is looking at the fish inside the box.

 They look like a waddle of penguins.

Rookery of Penguins

Another collective noun that can be used to refer to a group of penguins is ‘rookery’.
The usage of this term is mostly derived from the appearance of the penguins.
Young penguins may look like they lack confidence, which is apparent from their
walk, their gestures, etc. We have provided a few examples below for your better
understanding of the usage of the term.

Rookery + preposition + penguins

Rookery of penguins

Examples:

 That is a funny dance by the rookery of penguins in that animation.

 I saw a cute video of a rookery of penguins hanging out in the zoo.

Colony of Penguins
The term ‘colony’ is itself a common collective noun. Penguins are always seen in
crowds and colonies. Penguins belonging to different colonies also have some
complex social behaviour. These colonies exist to increase the possibility of their
survival.

Check the examples provided below for a better and clear understanding of the
usage of the term.

Colony + preposition + penguins

Colony of penguins

Examples:

 Have you ever noticed a colony of penguins?

 Why don’t you do research on the colony of penguins?

Huddle of Penguins
The term ‘huddle’ is another collective noun used for a group of penguins which is
not as crowded as a colony but more than just a few. Check the examples provided
below to understand the usage of the term.

Huddle + preposition + penguins

Huddle of penguins

Examples:

 The fishermen changed their location after seeing the huddle of penguins.
 The huddle of penguins is moving towards the seashore.
Frequently Asked Questions on Collective Nouns for
Penguins
Q1
What are the collective nouns for penguins?
The various collective nouns for penguins are raft, waddle, rookery, colony, and
huddle.
Q2
What is the most common collective noun for penguins?
The most commonly used collective noun for penguins is a colony. We say a colony
of penguins when there are a large number of penguins together.

Collective Noun Examples Used in Sentences

Have a look at the following sentences.

 Tommy was excited to see a herd of elephants on the way to his native
place.
 The bench of judges gave the verdict on the case.
 The kid enjoyed seeing the flock of pigeons take off all at once.
 The football team was congratulated by the principal.
 The mob was getting crazier with time.
 The event started with the band playing the school anthem.
 The children learnt how to perform a magic trick with a pack of ca