These words refer to gatherings of people. Group is so general that it may be used for small or relatively large gatherings that have come about by accident or intention: the group of people who happened to be waiting for the plane’s arrival; a study group formed to keep track of the opposition’s proposals. While these examples suggest relatively small gatherings, the word may be used, especially in statistical contexts, for a large number of people: the thousands of people still in the undecided group .

Body is nearly as general as group , but considerably more vague; it may refer to organized groups : a legislative body ; a Protestant body ; a body of foot soldiers. It may also suggest dedicated followers or a majority: a solid body of James Bond fans; the body of citizens who favour fair play. Except in standard expressions, such as student body , it might be effectively avoided in favour of a more concrete word for group .

Troupe and company both can refer to a travelling group of performing artists. Troupe has mostly gone out of use, except for such specialized groups as ballet, mime or circus performers: a dance troupe setting out on a world tour; the carnival troupe that straggled into town late in the week. Company is now the preferred word for plays or musicals on tour; the word also suggests a legal or formal organization: a national touring opera company . Unlike troupe , company can refer also to performing groups that do not necessarily tour: a repertory company . The word, furthermore, has a wider range of uses for various kinds of organized groups , such as military units or private businesses. It can also suggest a less well-defined array of like-minded people: a company of dissolute beatniks.

Troop , like company , can refer to a military body , but, while company refers to a specific unit with a definite structure, troop is now seldom used in this sense. In the plural, however, it refers to soldiers in general: dispatching troops to the front.

Band and party both may have military uses. In this context, band would suggest a small group of soldiers who have perhaps accidentally fallen together during battle: the ragged band of survivors. The word, whatever its context, suggests a close working co-operation among the members, often with the object of doing good: The committee chairman and his band of willing helpers organized the school fête. But it may also suggest a furtive group , working secretly or illegally: a guerrilla band ; a band of smugglers. Party , in its military context, suggests a detachment deployed for a specific purpose: the landing party . This suggestion of subdividing a larger body may be present in other uses: the group of canvassers being divided into smaller parties . The word may also refer to one side in a struggle or contract: a battle in which both parties received heavy casualties; both parties to the arbitration; a system of government based on two political parties .

Gang is the only word in this set with mainly negative connotations, suggesting a group whose purpose is the performance of illegal, violent or hostile activities: a narcotics gang ; a teenage gang . But it can, informally, refer to one’s cronies: the old gang who used to drop in at the local pub. It can also refer to a select group of labourers: the gang of railway fettlers.