membres

Membres is the plural of the French noun membre. The term has two broad senses: anatomical and organizational. In anatomy, a membre refers to a limb or appendage of a vertebrate. The plural is used for limbs collectively or individually, for example les membres supérieurs (the arms or forelimbs) and les membres inférieurs (the legs or hindlimbs). In organizational or social contexts, a membre denotes a person belonging to a group, such as a club, council, or company; the plural membres refers to the people who make up that body (for example, les membres du conseil).

Etymology: The term derives from Latin membrum, meaning limb or part of the body. The plural is formed by adding -es.

Usage notes: In everyday French, the distinction depends on context: "membre" can mean either a body part or a member of a group, while more specific terms (bras, jambe; adhérent) may be used for clarity. In institutional writing, "membre du conseil" is common.

Examples: "Il s’est blessé au membre inférieur." "Les membres du comité se réunissent vendredi."