noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
club member; staff member
Refers to a person who belongs to a club, society, or organizational department. Often used in school club contexts.
He is a member of the soccer club.
We are recruiting new club members.
He became a member of the soccer club this year.
We recruited new club members at the start of the term.
Our tennis club doesn't have enough members.
メンバー is a casual, general loanword for 'member' usable for any group, whereas 部員 is the specific Japanese term for a club or departmental member.
団員 is used for a member of a band, troupe, or corps (e.g. 合唱団員), while 部員 is used for a member of a school club or company department.
部員 refers to a member of a 部 (department), a larger unit, whereas 課員 refers to a member of the smaller 課 (section) inside it.
部員 refers to an ordinary club/team member, in contrast to 主将, who is the team's leader or captain.
部下 means a subordinate under someone at work, while 部員 means a member of a club or department, with no hierarchy implied.
ghost club member; inactive club member
Compound of 部 (ぶ, 'club, department') and 員 (いん, 'member').