There are many ways to express the feelings of closeness we have for each other. I would definitely say there is an overall feeling of affection, closeness, good rapport and even devotion amongst the GrammarMill community. One might say there is a certain camaraderie between the managers and writers. Or would that be comradery? If these two words leave you flummoxed as to which is more appropriate in writing, you are not alone. Luckily, the difference between camaraderie vs. comradery is simpler than you think.

Camaraderie vs. Comradery at a Glance

When you have a positive feeling of friendship and togetherness with a person or group of people, you are experiencing camaraderie. This includes everything from kindliness to even a sort of goodhearted teasing or friendly competition. Ultimately, camaraderie has a “team” or “we’re in this together” sort of vibe. It refers to relationships with others as opposed to a mental or emotional state.

As far as friendship and togetherness are concerned, you can also describe that feeling as comradery.

What’s the Difference Between Camaraderie and Comradery?

The camaraderie vs. comradery definition is straightforward: a noun meaning a general feeling of amicableness and closeness or affection between two or more people. The main differences between the two words are the countries that use them, when they first appeared in the English language, and how they are spelled and pronounced.

Camaraderie has popularity and time on its side, as it first appeared around 1840 and is used more often, according to Merriam-Webster. It comes from the French word camarade, which translates as comrade and is ultimately evolved from camera, the Latin word for chamber. Camaraderie has four or five syllables, depending on how you say it. Some people pronounce it “cam-ra-de-rie”; others say it as “ca-ma-ra-de-rie.”

Comradery is a variant of camaraderie, and its first-known use was in 1862. It comes from adding the -ry suffix to comrade, similar to how words like dentistry and pageantry are formed. It is more commonly used in U.S. English. Comradery contains three or four syllables, depending on if you say it as “com-rad-ry” or “com-ra-de-ry,” also making it a possible homophone.

When To Use Camaraderie

Use camaraderie any time you wish to indicate a sense of brotherhood, friendship, goodwill and togetherness between people.

Examples of using camaraderie in a sentence:

• You could say there was distinct camaraderie between Frodo and the rest of the fellowship.
• I wondered if I would ever find the same warm camaraderie I felt when my sisters and I shared hot chocolate and holiday puns.

When To Use Comradery

Use comradery in the same way you would use camaraderie: to indicate feelings of familiarity, friendliness and companionship. Both words should be used positively.

Examples of using comradery in a sentence:

• Kim was delighted that the company embraced her with such enthusiastic comradery.
• The teammates’ comradery was palpable, even in the face of defeat.

Camaraderie vs. Comradery: It’s a Wonderful Feeling

The camaraderie vs. comradery meaning is the same no matter which word you choose. The first is ubiquitous, but the second is an acceptable alternative. Which version do you feel is better? Do you think there is a definitive difference in meaning between the two spellings? Share your insight in the comments below.