A1 noun Neutral #2,614 most common

peer

/pɪər/

A peer is someone who is at the same level as you, such as being the same age or having the same job. It is often used to describe friends at school or people you work with.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Children usually like to play with their peers at the park.

Children usually like to play with other children of the same age at the park.

2

The professor's research was checked by his peers.

The professor's research was checked by other experts in the same field.

3

I'm just hanging out with some peers from class.

I am just spending time with some classmates.

Word Family

Noun
peer
Verb
peer
Adjective
peerless
Related
peerage
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Memory Tip

Think of 'peers' as 'pairs'—people who are a perfect match for you in age or job level.

Quick Quiz

Young people often feel _____ pressure to follow the latest fashion trends.

Correct!

The correct answer is: peer

Examples

1

Children usually like to play with their peers at the park.

everyday

Children usually like to play with other children of the same age at the park.

2

The professor's research was checked by his peers.

formal

The professor's research was checked by other experts in the same field.

3

I'm just hanging out with some peers from class.

informal

I am just spending time with some classmates.

4

Academic journals use a peer review process to ensure quality.

academic

Academic journals use a process where equals check the work to ensure quality.

5

She is respected by her peers in the marketing department.

business

She is respected by other people who do the same job in her department.

Word Family

Noun
peer
Verb
peer
Adjective
peerless
Related
peerage

Common Collocations

peer pressure social pressure from people your own age
peer group a group of people with the same status or age
peer review evaluation of work by people in the same field
peer support help given by people in a similar situation
peer interaction communication between people of equal rank

Common Phrases

peer pressure

the influence that people your own age have on you

a jury of one's peers

a legal group of equal citizens who make a decision

peer-to-peer

direct sharing between two equal people or computers

Often Confused With

peer vs pair

A 'pair' refers to two of something, while a 'peer' is a person of equal status.

peer vs pier

A 'pier' is a structure built out into the water, while 'peer' refers to an equal person.

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Usage Notes

The word is most commonly used in the plural ('peers') to describe a general group of equals. While it can mean a nobleman in the UK, in most global contexts it refers to social or professional equals.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the word 'friends' when they actually mean 'peers'; remember that you can be a peer to someone without being their friend.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'peers' as 'pairs'—people who are a perfect match for you in age or job level.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin word 'par,' which means 'equal.'

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (plural: peers) Often used with possessive adjectives (my peers, his peers) Can be used as a noun-modifier (peer group, peer pressure)
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Cultural Context

In the United Kingdom, a 'peer' also refers to a member of the nobility who has a title and may sit in the House of Lords.

Quick Quiz

Young people often feel _____ pressure to follow the latest fashion trends.

Correct!

The correct answer is: peer

Related Words

unvolsion

C1

The process of deliberately detaching or withdrawing from a state of complex entanglement or involvement, often within social or systemic structures. It describes a conscious reversal of 'involution,' where one seeks to simplify or exit a convoluted situation.

circumpugible

C1

To systematically encircle and attack or challenge a target from all possible directions. This verb is often used to describe strategic military maneuvers or intense rhetorical debates where an opponent is overwhelmed from every side.

semidocable

C1

A semidocable is a technical component or data unit that possesses limited or conditional compatibility with a primary docking system or documentation framework. It typically designates an item that requires secondary manual verification or a specialized adapter to achieve full functional integration.

postgradism

C1

Postgradism refers to the sociocultural condition, mindset, or lifestyle associated with being a postgraduate student. It often describes the immersive academic environment or the tendency for individuals to remain in higher education for an extended period after completing their initial degree.

inurbtude

C1

To cause a person to lose their refined or sophisticated manners, typically by subjecting them to a rough or unpolished environment. It describes the process of becoming inurbane, socially coarse, or lacking in city-bred civility.

hypermaterness

C1

Characterized by or relating to an extreme, often overbearing state of maternal instinct and overprotectiveness. This term is used to describe a level of mothering that exceeds typical boundaries, potentially stifling the independence of the child.

decedance

C1

Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline, often associated with excessive indulgence in luxury, pleasure, or self-gratification. In modern contexts, it frequently describes things that are luxuriously rich or self-indulgent to the point of being excessive.

tricentcide

C1

Describing an act, event, or substance that results in the destruction or death of exactly three hundred distinct entities or individuals. It is also used in theoretical historical contexts to describe the catastrophic end of a three-hundred-year cycle or era.

autofugdom

C1

Describing a state of self-imposed isolation or the psychological condition of fleeing from one's own identity or social responsibilities. It characterizes a person or behavior focused on internal withdrawal and the avoidance of external reality to preserve a sense of self.

inplication

C1

To show that someone or something is involved in a crime, a scandal, or an undesirable situation. It can also refer to demonstrating that something is a contributing factor or cause of a specific outcome, typically a negative one.

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