結社|けっしゃkessha[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounassociation; society

• Synonym団体だんたいNeutralThe broadest, neutral word for a group or organization. 「結社」 highlights a body formed for a shared purpose, as in 「結社の自由」 or 「秘密結社」.
• Synonym協会きょうかいWrittenAn association: a formal body of people in the same trade or with a shared interest, as in 「日本サッカー協会」; common in written or formal prose.
• Synonym組織そしきNeutralAn organization or institution with the focus on structure and system; unlike 「結社」, it does not imply voluntary joining. Neutral in register.
• Synonym組合くみあいNeutralA union or cooperative: a mutual-aid organization of workers or producers, such as a labor union; neutral in register.
• Synonym社団しゃだんFormalA formal term, mostly legal, for an association formed by its members; seen in compounds like 「社団法人」.
• SynonymサークルCasualA colloquial loanword for an interest group or hobby club, especially the circles students join at university.
• Synonym会かいNeutralA single character with a wide range: a society, association or club, as in 「後援会」; also covers meetings and gatherings. Neutral in register.
• SynonymアソシエーションWrittenA loanword for an association or federation formed voluntarily by its members; often appears in official names, in written or formal prose.
• Synonym結成けっせいWrittenA written-style word for setting up a group, as in 「党を結成する」; it centers on the act of forming, while 「結社」 is mostly used of the group so formed.
• RelatedクラブNeutralA club: a membership-based social group, as in 「ゴルフ倶楽部」; the focus is on socializing among members. Neutral in register.
• Antonym解散かいさんNeutralThe antonym: dissolving or disbanding a group, meeting or organization — the reverse of forming one. Neutral in register.

Use 「結社」 for a group people form to pursue a common purpose, as in 「結社の自由」 or 「秘密結社」. For groups in general say 「団体」; for industry and trade associations, 「協会」; for unions, 「組合」; for hobby or interest circles, 「サークル」. The opposite of forming one is 「解散」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 複数ふくすうの人ひとが共同きょうどうの目的もくてきを達成たっせいするために継続的けいぞくてきに組織そしきした共同体きょうどうたい。またそういう共同体きょうどうたいを結成けっせいすること。