Buzz
Collective nouns (also referred to as nouns of assemblage or sometimes venereal terms) are words that define groups of related objects. While many of these terms are well known, there is also a fascinating array of less familiar ones. For example, you might already be aware of the term “A litter of kittens”—litter being the collective noun. Now, let's explore 20 others that might surprise you and add flair to your sentences.
Collective Nouns 1-5
1. A clowder of cats
2. A group of cellists known as a parenthesis
3. A coalition of cheetahs working together
4. A shock of corn, stalks included
5. A pair of dogs, also called a brace
Collective Nouns 6-10
6. A leap of leopards in motion
7. A coterie of Orchids in bloom
8. A dray of squirrels gathering supplies
9. A midden of shells, scattered and collected
10. A gathering of crows, known as a murder
Collective Nouns 11-15
11. A thought of barons contemplating matters
12. A knot of toads huddling together
13. A parliament of wise owls in discussion
14. A covey of quail flitting through the grass
15. A passel of playful piglets running around
Collective Nouns 16-20
16. A rascal of mischievous boys
17. A rafter of turkeys perched together
18. A skein of geese soaring through the sky
19. A shrewdness of clever apes
20. A cete of badgers in their den
Bonus: Fun but Unverified Collective Nouns
21. A flush of busy plumbers
22. A Rand of Objectivists discussing philosophy
23. A yap of chihuahuas barking energetically
24. An ogle of office workers glancing around
25. A gathering of relatives at a reunion
Sources used for verification: Milwaukee Zoo, Oxford English Dictionary, Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
