GPB Dictionary of Collective Nouns
We have collected here a huge number of collective nouns, as a reference and for those seeking some light entertainment, if this is how you like to get it. They all follow the format “A/An [X] of [Y].
We have categorised these nouns into separate boxes in this order: Humans, Birds, Other Animals, and objects.
*Indicates that there is a book with this name.
Sources include (with thanks): Backyard Chirper’s Collective Nouns for Groups of Various Birds
| Group: Humans | Collective Noun |
| Politicians | Equivocation |
| Lawyers | Eloquence |
| Bankers | Immorality |
| Estate Agents | Irrelevance |
| Barbers | Babble |
| Butchers | Goring |
| Police | Posse, Squad |
| Experts | Panel, Excess, Discord |
| Economists | Surplus |
| Listeners | Audience |
| Builders | Gang |
| Architects | Square |
| Actors | Cast, Queue, Company… |
| Comedians | Gaggle, Riot |
| Grammarians | Conjunction |
| Jurors | Damning |
| Doctors | Doctrine, Affliction |
| Nurses | Superfluity |
| Dermatologists | Rash |
| Dentists | Brace |
| Impressionists | Blur |
| Nuns | Prey, murmur, flap, superfluity |
| Witches | Coven |
| Lawyers | Deceit, blood-letting |
| Heroin Addicts | Smack |
| Animal Lovers | Hypocracy (not Hypocrisy) |
| TV critics | Irrelevance |
| Hypocrites | Decortication |
| Pardoners | Lying |
| People | Community, Group, Board |
| People (continued) | Family, Crowd, Team |
| Girls | Bevy, Gaggle, Giggle |
| Boys | Plush, Rascal |
| Uncles, Aunties | Irreverence |
| Parents | Embarrassment, Persistence |
| Mothers | Consternation |
| Fathers | Garage |
| Grandparents | Nag, Wisdom |
| Children | Cost Centre, Chaos, Ingratitude |
| Heirs | Expectation |
| Wives | Impatience (!) |
| Husbands | Unhappiness (!) |
| Patients | Sick, Ward, Waiting Room |
| Group: Birds | Collective Noun |
| Chickens, Geese… | Flock |
| Crows | Murder, Mob, Horde |
| Geese | Gaggle |
| Finches | Charm (*of Goldfinches) |
| Lapwings | Deceit |
| Owls | Parliament |
| Peacocks | Ostentation |
| Pheasant, Grouse | Brace (two) |
| Partridge, Guinea Fowl | Brace (two) |
| Ravens | Conspiracy*, Unkindness* |
| Starlings | Murmuration, Constellation |
| Starlings (continued) | Scourge, Affliction |
| Group: Other animals | Collective Noun |
| Apes | Shrewdness |
| Ants | Army, Swarm |
| Bacteria | Colony, Culture |
| Bats | Colony |
| Bees, Wasps | Colony, Swarm |
| Cats | Clowder, Litter, Pounce |
| Cats (continued) | Kindle, Colony (wild) |
| Crocodiles | Float |
| Ferrets | Business |
| Flies | Business |
| Hippopotami | Bloat |
| Lions | Pride |
| Locusts | Plague |
| Jellyfish | Smack |
| Baboons | Flange |
| Gorillas | Whoop |
| Tigers | Ambush* |
| Daisy, Buttercup, Patch… | Cows |
| Cows, Antelopes, Bison… | Herd |
| Elephants… | Herd |
| Ants, Bees, Eels, Flies | Swarm |
| Gnats, Rats… | Swarm |
| Group: Objects | Collective Noun |
| Aeroplanes | Squadron |
| Buildings | Set, Cluster, Town, City, Village |
| Ships, Boats | Fleet, Armada, Flotilla |
| Drinks, Beer | Round |
