What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
officemate
Example
My officemate and I share a cubicle at work. [officemate: noun]
Example
I'm going to grab lunch with my officemates later. [officemates: plural noun]
colleague
Example
I have a meeting with my colleagues from the marketing department. [colleagues: plural noun]
Example
My colleague and I are working on a project together. [colleague: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Colleague is more commonly used than officemate in everyday language. Colleague is a more general term that covers a wider range of professional relationships, while officemate is more specific and limited to people who share the same office space.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between officemate and colleague?
Colleague is generally considered more formal than officemate. It is commonly used in professional settings and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while officemate is more informal and typically used in casual conversations.
