adhèrent

Adhérent is a noun used in French to describe a person who adheres to an organization, movement, or cause by joining or supporting it. In everyday use, it often refers to someone who has become a member of an association, club, party, trade union, or mutual benefit organization, and who participates in its activities and governance to some extent.

The term derives from the verb admettre or adhérer, meaning to adhere or join. It carries a sense of voluntary affiliation and commitment rather than mere association; an adherent is someone who supports the group’s principles and is bound by its rules and statutes.

In most organizations, being an adherent entails certain rights and duties. Rights commonly include participation in meetings, voting or eligibility for office, access to services, and receipt of information. Duties typically involve paying dues, respecting the statutes and ethical codes, and contributing to the group’s aims. The process of joining is often called l’adhésion, and it may require approval by the governing body or completion of a registration form.

Adhérent has a gendered form in French: adhérent (masculine) and adhérente (feminine). It is closely related to but distinct from the general term membre, which is more neutral and broad, whereas adhérent emphasizes the act of adhesion and active belonging. The word appears across contexts, including associations, political parties, unions, and religious or cultural groups.