If you’re wondering how to say “not belonging” more formally or using different words, this article is here to help!
Below, we’ve provided a list of suitable terms and phrases that you can use instead of “not belonging” in formal and informal settings.
So, keep reading to learn more!
Not Belonging Synonyms
- Not affiliated
- Excluded
- Outcast
- Distinct from
- Separate from
- Not part of
- Detached
- Isolated
- Estranged
- Left out
- Rejected
- Unwanted
- Not forming part
- Non-member
- Not falling into
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Not belonging” is a grammatically correct phrase, but it can only be used correctly in certain contexts.
- “Not affiliated” is a better phrase to use in a formal setting.
- In a less formal setting, you can use the word “excluded.”
Stick around! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top formal and informal synonyms for “not belonging” in more detail.
We’ll even show you how to use each of our choices in some examples!
After that, we’ll discuss the correctness of the phrase “not belonging.”
Not Affiliated (Formal)
“Not affiliated” is another way to say “not belonging” in a more formal setting.
Essentially, to be “affiliated” with something means to be joined or in close association with it.
We usually use this phrase when speaking about organizations or official bodies.
For example, a company that is “affiliated” with another could be connected to or controlled by the other company.
In short, this makes “not affiliated” a great synonym to use in professional circumstances. In fact, it is a better option to go with than the original phrase.
After all, you can use it to clearly identify which organizations your company endorses or works with when speaking to your clients, potential employees, or investors.
This is essential, especially if you think being connected to another organization could damage your company’s reputation.
However, being too critical of the other organization can be risky as well. Therefore, “not affiliated” keeps things light and professional in tone.
Consider this example:
To be clear, we are not affiliated with that organization and have never collaborated with them in the past.
Finally, let’s see how you might employ this phrase in an email sample to a concerned customer:
Dear Mr. Jean,
We take your concerns very seriously, and I am happy to report that we are not affiliated with any suppliers that test on animals.
Kind regards,
Tagan Wright
Excluded (Informal)
Another word for “not belonging” is “excluded.”
In particular, you can use this alternative to describe the feeling of not belonging at work or not belonging to a group.
The word “excluded” is not informal per se. However, this term may come across as too harsh for an office setting.
After all, it is essentially the opposite of belonging.
Therefore, it carries connotations of a person being rejected by others. This makes it a tad more emotive than some of the other alternatives on our list.
Have a look at this example to see what we mean:
Seamus was always excluded by the other children at school, which explains why he is so jaded and socially awkward to this day.
However, there are certainly ways that you can use this phrase in a professional setting. It’s just not the first synonym we would recommend.
Nonetheless, check out this email example:
Dear Rachel,
I think it would be better if we kept the FAQ section excluded from the main page of our website for now.
However, we can link it at the bottom.
All the best,
Kyle
Is It Correct to Say “Not Belonging”?
The phrase “not belonging” is grammatically correct. However, it may sound clumsy if you use it incorrectly or too frequently.
Namely, it uses the gerund form of “belong.” This is not the phrasing usually chosen by native English speakers.
For instance, we would not say “He is not belonging to the team.” Rather, we would say “He does not belong to the team.”
Therefore, we would recommend that you use one of the synonyms in our list in more formal or professional settings.
Nevertheless, if you do want to use this phrase, here is an example of how you can use it correctly in practice:
She is one of the few dancers not belonging to a formally recognized squad.
In conclusion, the phrase “not belonging” is correct but not preferred by English speakers. Therefore, it wouldn’t hurt to switch up your phrasing using one or more of the alternatives from our list.
So, if you’d like to keep our list nearby for later, why not bookmark this page?