aggregate

American  

[ag-ri-git, -geyt, ag-ri-geyt] / ˈæg rɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt, ˈæg rɪˌgeɪt /

adjective

1. formed by the conjunction or collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; total; combined.

   the aggregate amount of indebtedness.

   Synonyms:

   whole, complete

2. Botany.

   1. (of a flower) formed of florets collected in a dense cluster but not cohering, as the daisy.

   2. (of a fruit) composed of a cluster of carpels belonging to the same flower, as the raspberry.

3. Geology. (of a rock) consisting of a mixture of minerals separable by mechanical means.

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noun

1. a sum, mass, or assemblage of particulars; a total or gross amount.

   the aggregate of all past experience.

2. a cluster of soil particles: an aggregate larger than 250 micrometers in diameter, as the size of a small crumb, is technically regarded as a macroaggregate.

3. any of various loose, particulate materials, as sand, gravel, or pebbles, added to a cementing agent to make concrete, plaster, etc.

4. Mathematics. set.

verb (used with object)

aggregates, present (3rd person singular) aggregated, past participle, past aggregating present participle

1. to bring together; collect into one sum, mass, or body.

   Synonyms:

   gather, accumulate, amass, assemble

2. to amount to (the number of ).

   The guns captured will aggregate five or six hundred.

verb (used without object)

aggregates, present (3rd person singular) aggregated, past participle, past aggregating present participle

1. to combine and form a collection or mass.

idioms

1. in the aggregate, taken or considered as a whole.

   In the aggregate, our losses have been relatively small.

aggregate British  

/ ˈæɡrɪˌɡeɪtɪv /

adjective

1. formed of separate units collected into a whole; collective; corporate

2. (of fruits and flowers) composed of a dense cluster of carpels or florets

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noun

1. a sum or assemblage of many separate units; sum total

2. geology a rock, such as granite, consisting of a mixture of minerals

3. the sand and stone mixed with cement and water to make concrete

4. a group of closely related biotypes produced by apomixis, such as brambles, which are the Rubus fruticosus aggregate

5. taken as a whole

verb

1. to combine or be combined into a body, etc

2. (tr) to amount to (a number)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aggregateness
  noun
• aggregable
  adjective
• aggregately
  adverb
• aggregative
  adjective
• unaggregated
  adjective
• hyperaggregate
  verb
• subaggregately
  adverb
• subaggregate
  adjective
• aggregatory
  adjective
• reaggregate
  verb
• aggregately
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has aggregated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have aggregated
  perfect
• have been aggregating
  perfect progressive
• are aggregating
  progressive
• is aggregating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• aggregates
  singular 3rd person
• am aggregating
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been aggregating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• aggregating
  participle

Past

• had aggregated
  perfect
• were aggregating
  progressive plural
• was aggregating
  progressive singular
• had been aggregating
  perfect progressive
• aggregated
  simple
• aggregated
  participle

Future

• will aggregate
  simple
• will have aggregated
  perfect
• will be aggregating
  progressive
• will have been aggregating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of aggregate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin aggregātus (past participle of aggregāre ), equivalent to ag- ag- + greg- (stem of grex “flock”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

To aggregate is to collect many units into one. If you're writing a novel, you might create a character who is an aggregate of five or six real people. Aggregate comes from the Latin verb aggregare, which means to add to. As a verb it means to collect into a mass or whole. You can also use it as an adjective, as in your aggregate sales for February, March and April. It can also be a noun. The mountain of foam in bubble bath is an aggregate of small bubbles. If you plan to work in economics or business, expect to see the word aggregate quite a lot.

Example Sentences

According to FactSet, the Bloomberg High Yield Index has a yield-to-worst of 7.01%, while the Bloomberg Aggregate Index has a yield-to-worst of 4.70% and an effective duration of 5.97.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Aggregate consumer spending is holding up, partly due to tax refunds, but economists expect inflation to slow future spending.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Aggregate reported gross margins for S&P 500 companies—excluding financials and real estate companies—recently dropped to roughly 45% from a multidecade peak of over 47% in 2021, according to Trivariate Research.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Aggregate Bond Index returned about 7.3% in 2025.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Aggregate demand has surged in the form of increased personal and government consumption.

From The 1998 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• accumulated
• combined
• corporate
• cumulative