Team vs. crew: what’s the difference?
The short answer
A team typically refers to a group working together, often in a professional, competitive, or sports context, emphasizing collaboration and shared objectives. A crew often refers to a group of people working on specific tasks, such as on a ship, airplane, or filming set, and can imply specialized roles or positions.
What they have in common
Both team and crew refer to a group of people working together towards a common goal or task.
Examples
team
- The soccer team won the championship.
- Our project team meets every Tuesday to discuss progress.
- She joined the marketing team last year.
crew
- The flight crew prepared for takeoff.
- The ship’s crew coordinated the docking procedure.
- A film crew was setting up cameras for the scene.
Which one is more common?

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