What are Team and Group? Distinguishing between Team and Group in English

Content publishing rules

Team and Group are two commonly used words in English. In the article below, PREP will share knowledge about their concepts, usage, and the differences between Team and Group!

Distinguishing Between Team and Group in English

I. What is a Team?
1. 1. Words and phrases associated with Team
2. 2. Idioms & Collocations with Team
II. What is a Group?
1. 1. Words/Phrases Associated with Group
2. 2. Collocations with Group
III. The difference between Team and Group
IV. Exercises to distinguish between Team and Group
1. 1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with Team or Group
2. 2. Answer keys: Group or Team

I. What is a Team?

Let’s find out what a Team is before distinguishing between Team vs Group!

Team is pronounced /tiːm/ and functions as both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, Team means: a group or a squad. For example: Our team came third in the competition.
As a verb, Team means: to work together to achieve something. For example: The two companies have teamed up to provide a new class of multimedia services.

1. Words and phrases associated with Team

To accurately distinguish between Team and Group, let’s refer to the words/phrases associated with Team!

Words and phrases associated with Team	Meaning	Example
head/ lead/ manage a team	To take the top position, provide guidance, or oversee the operations and activities of a group of individuals working together towards a common goal.	Sarah was promoted to manage a team of 15 software developers.
member of the team	An individual who is part of a group that collaborates to achieve specific objectives.	As a member of the team, it's important to contribute your ideas during meetings.
management/ finance/ marketing team	A group of professionals working together in the fields of management, finance, or marketing, each contributing their expertise to the team's overall goals.	The marketing team worked tirelessly to create a successful campaign for the new product launch.
legal team	A group of legal professionals, such as lawyers and paralegals, who work together to provide legal services or advice.	The legal team reviewed the contract to ensure that all terms were fair and compliant with regulations.
a team of lawyers/ sales people/ experts	A group of individuals specializing in law, sales, or specific areas of expertise, collaborating to achieve a common goal or project.	They hired a team of lawyers to handle the complex legal case.
a football/ baseball/ basketball team	A group of players organized to compete in the sports of football, baseball, or basketball, usually representing a school, club, or professional franchise.	John plays as a striker for his local football team.
national team	A representative group composed of players selected from a specific country to compete in international sports competitions.	Emi was thrilled to be selected for the national team in the upcoming international tournament.
team (up) with sb/team (up) with sb to do sth	To collaborate or work together with another individual or group to accomplish a specific task or goal.	The company decided to team up with a local charity to support the community.
team (up) with sb/team (up) with sb to do sth		The scientists teamed up with engineers to develop the new medical device.
team up to do sth	To come together with others to collectively work on a project or specific activity.	Several tech companies teamed up to create a new cybersecurity initiative.

2. Idioms & Collocations with Team

To distinguish between Team and Group, let’s refer to the table of Idioms & Collocations with Team below!

Idioms & Collocations with Team	Meaning	Example
take one for the team	To sacrifice personal interests for the benefit of the entire team.	John didn’t really want to stay late, but he took one for the team and finished the project.
all-star team	A lineup that consists of the best players from different teams.	Anna was chosen to play on the all-star team after her excellent performance in the league.
all-state team	A selection of the best high school players from throughout the state.	After a great season, Michael was named to the all-state team.
away team	The visiting team.	The away team had to adapt quickly to the unfamiliar field conditions.
baseball team	A team that plays the sport of baseball.	The local baseball team won the championship this year.
basketball team	A team that plays the sport of basketball.	Our basketball team is training hard for the upcoming tournament.
bowling team	A team that participates in bowling competitions.	The bowling team meets every Friday night for a match.
cheerleading team	A group of individuals who perform organized cheering, typically at sports events.	The cheerleading team performed an impressive routine at the halftime show.
chess team	A team that competes in chess matches.	The chess team won first place in the inter-school tournament.
cricket team	A team that plays the sport of cricket.	The cricket team practiced every weekend to prepare for the championship.

Refer to more collocations with Team by clicking the link below!

REFER TO COLLOCATIONS WITH TEAM AT CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY!

II. What is a Group?

To accurately compare and distinguish between Team and Group, let’s find out what a Group is!

Group is pronounced /ɡruːp/ and functions as both a noun and a verb.

As a noun, Group means: a collection or gathering of individuals. For example: A small group of children waited outside the door.
As a verb, Group means: to form a collection or gathering. For example: I grouped the children according to age.

1. Words/Phrases Associated with Group

Let’s explore the table of words/phrases associated with Group before distinguishing between Group vs Team!

Words/Phrases Associated with Group	Meaning	Example
group of	A collection of people or things that share a common characteristic.	A group of students gathered around the teacher to ask questions.
a television/ banking/ construction group	A company or corporation that operates in the field of television, banking, or construction.	The construction group won the contract to build the new bridge.
in a group	Within a collection of individuals or doing something collectively as a unit.	The students worked in a group to complete the project.
a group discussion/ interview/ assignment	An event or task where individuals come together to participate collaboratively in a discussion, interview, or group assignment.	We had a group discussion to brainstorm ideas for the presentation.

2. Collocations with Group

Quickly refer to the list of collocations with Group before distinguishing between Group and Team!

Collocations with Group	Meaning	Example
carrier group	A group of aircraft carriers or a fleet of warships operating in conjunction with an aircraft carrier.	The carrier group was deployed to the region to provide naval support.
kin group	A group of people who are related by blood or through family ties.	In many societies, decisions are made collectively by the kin group.
leftist group	A group of individuals or organizations that hold leftist political views or ideologies.	The leftist group organized a protest against the new government policies.
lobby group	An organized group that seeks to influence government policy and decision-making, often through advocacy and persuasion.	The environmental lobby group successfully pushed for stricter pollution regulations.
militia group	A group of citizens organized for military purposes, often to provide defense or to engage in political activism.	The militia group took control of the region during the conflict.
trajectory group	A research or analytical group focused on studying or analyzing trajectories, which may refer to the path or progression of objects in motion, often used in fields such as physics or space studies.	The trajectory group analyzed the missile's path to predict its impact point.

III. The difference between Team and Group

Let’s explore the difference between Group & Team in the table below!

Difference between Team & Group	Team	Group
Usage	A team is a group of people working together towards a common goal. Members of a team typically have clearly defined roles, close collaboration, and specific objectives to achieve.	A group is a collection of people who share common interests, characteristics, or work together, but it does not necessarily require a common goal or close collaboration.
Example	The marketing team is working on the launch of the new product.	The discussion group meets every week to talk about different topics.

IV. Exercises to distinguish between Team and Group

To better understand the concepts, usage, and Team and Group differences, let’s complete the exercises below together!

1. Exercise: Fill in the blanks with Team or Group

The basketball __________ worked together to win the championship. (Team/Group)
Susan joined a book discussion __________ that meets every Friday evening. (Team/Group)
The research __________ was assigned to find solutions for the technical problems. (Team/Group)
A __________ of friends went on a trip to the mountains last weekend. (Team/Group)
The marketing __________ collaborated with the sales department on the new campaign. (Team/Group)
The environmental lobby __________ is pushing for new regulations on pollution. (Team/Group)
A __________ of scientists from various universities are working on the same project. (Team/Group)
Our football __________ has been training every day for the upcoming tournament. (Team/Group)
The management __________ is responsible for making all the key decisions in the company. (Team/Group)
In the brainstorming session, the __________ came up with several innovative ideas. (Team/Group)

2. Answer keys: Group or Team

Team
Group
Team
Group
Team

Group
Group
Team
Team
Team

In this article, PREP has shared with you the concepts, usage, and differences between Team and Group. Keep following PREP to update your knowledge with more beneficial English language skills!

PREP – the smart learning and test preparation platform integrated with AI, helps you learn English grammar and vocabulary through modern methods such as Context-based Learning, Task-based Learning, and Guided Discovery, transforming dry knowledge into engaging and easily understandable lessons.

Additionally, PREP provides mind maps that summarize key concepts, making it easier for students to review and look up information.

With the support of the exclusive Prep AI, you will have your pronunciation errors detected and corrected, with assistance throughout the process of improving pronunciation from individual sounds to complete sentences.

Prep AI technology also helps you practice dictation, strengthen your vocabulary, and become familiar with native speakers' intonation.

Download the PREP app now to study English online at home with a high-quality online learning program.

Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.