Learn English – Neutral term for a person in the same organization

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Is there a neutral term for a person who belongs to an organization to which I also belong, not implying a personal relationship?

Inside a business, one might use colleague or peer. Business to business, one might use partner (or customer or vendor or supplier to indicate the direction in which the business takes place). But in my case this is not a business relationship.

There are other special purpose terms. If it is a fraternal or church organization, one might use brother and sister, but in my case they won’t do.

Co-participant is neutral but seems to connote more a common activity than a common organization, and it is awkwardly long. Confederate, on the other hand, conveys a common organization but seems to have a negative connotation. Fellow might also do, but it seems to have an elitist or learned connotation.

I am not looking for a word that means friend, such as companion or comrade. That connotes a personal relationship which does not necessarily exist between members of an organization. Comrade also brings in the leftist political alignment.

Best Answer

A synonym for colleague is cooperator; or associate.

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