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au sein de

within

Definition & meaning

au sein de is a French prepositional expression meaning:

  • within
  • inside
  • among
  • in the midst of
  • within the ranks or membership of

It is most often used in a formal or written register, especially when referring to a group, organization, institution, society, or community.

Examples:

  • au sein de l’entreprise — within the company
  • au sein de la famille — within the family
  • un débat au sein du parti — a debate within the party
  • la solidarité au sein de la communauté — solidarity within the community

Depending on the context, it can refer either to physical inclusion or to participation in a group or organization.

Grammar & Word origin

au sein de is a fixed prepositional phrase.

  • au is the contraction of à + le: “in/at the”
  • sein originally means “bosom,” “breast,” or “inner part”
  • de introduces the group, place, or entity concerned

The expression is followed by a noun:

  • au sein de l’équipe — within the team
  • au sein d’une organisation — within an organization

The phrase changes form before feminine or plural nouns because of the article:

  • au sein de la société — within society
  • au sein des institutions — within institutions
  • au sein d’un groupe — within a group

The noun sein can also have a literal anatomical meaning, but in au sein de, it is generally used figuratively to express inclusion or interiority.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • dans — “in” or “inside”; more common and less formal, and often more neutral than au sein de
  • à l’intérieur de — “inside”; emphasizes an interior location, whether literal or figurative
  • parmi — “among”; emphasizes being surrounded by or counted as part of a group
  • au cœur de — “at the heart of”; often more figurative and emphasizes a central position
  • au milieu de — “in the middle of” or “among”; can suggest a physical or figurative central position

Antonyms

  • hors de — “outside” or “beyond”; indicates exclusion from a place or group
  • à l’extérieur de — “outside of”; emphasizes physical or organizational exteriority
  • en dehors de — “outside of” or “apart from”; can also mean “excluding” or “other than”

Common phrases & collocations

  • au sein de l’entreprise — within the company
  • au sein de la société — within society
  • au sein de la famille — within the family
  • au sein du gouvernement — within the government
  • au sein d’un groupe — within a group
  • un conflit au sein de — a conflict within
  • une décision prise au sein de — a decision made within

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Examples

Je travaille au sein d'une petite équipe.other

I work within a small team.

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