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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

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

Past

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

Future

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

GSK said its aggregate investment is estimated to be $9.4 billion given that Nuvalent brings cash with it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Analysts are looking for 34% 2027 earnings per share growth for the chip fund, in aggregate, to $24.71.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Putting up all those new data centers requires plenty of what builders call aggregate, and what the rest of us call rocks that have been broken into smaller rocks.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

One of them is that to get into the S&P 500, a company has to have been profitable in its most recent quarter, as well as over the past year in the aggregate.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

Go to Durham and see Negro business with an aggregate capital of millions....Among your New Year’s resolves, resolve to go to Durham!

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• accumulated
• combined
• corporate
• cumulative