nonmembers

nonmembers — noun

1. a person, group, or organization that is not part of a particular club, team, gr

1.nounB1
Definition

a person, group, or organization that is not part of a particular club, team, group, or system

Example

The gym charges nonmembers a higher fee for using the swimming pool.

charge + nonmembers + fee for [service]

Allison's report is only available to staff; nonmembers cannot access it.

Common collocations
  • charge nonmembers
  • allow nonmembers
  • nonmembers access
Synonyms
  • outsider

    more general; can imply social exclusion beyond group membership

  • stranger

    implies lack of acquaintance, not just membership status

Antonyms
  • member

    the direct affirmative counterpart

Grammar Patterns

nonmembers + verb

adjective + nonmembers

Usage Note

Frequently used in the plural when referring to a group of people. The singular form (nonmember) is less common and often appears in predicative position.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Nonmembers specifically describes people who do not hold formal membership in a particular group, club, or organization. Outsider is broader — it can mean someone who does not belong to a group socially or culturally, not just formally. Stranger goes further, implying a lack of acquaintance or familiarity. For example: 'The club welcomes nonmembers at the open house' discusses membership status; 'He felt like an outsider at the party' discusses social belonging; and 'She was a stranger to everyone in the room' means no one knew her.

nonmembers ↗outsiders ↗strangers ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • open to nonmembers
  • charge nonmembers

Prepositions

  • nonmembers of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix non- (meaning 'not') to the noun member, which came into English from Old French membre, from Latin membrum meaning 'limb' or 'part of the body'. The sense of 'member' as part of a group dates from the 16th century, and nonmember emerged as a straightforward negation of that sense.

First known use

1635

1635, in the meaning defined above