collective
Americanadjective
-
formed by collection.
-
forming a whole; combined.
the collective assets of a corporation and its subsidiaries.
-
of or characteristic of a group of individuals taken together.
the collective wishes of the membership.
-
organized according to the principles of collectivism.
a collective farm.
noun
-
a collective body; group.
-
a business, farm, etc., jointly owned and operated by the members of a group.
-
a unit of organization or the organization in a collectivist system.
adjective
-
formed or assembled by collection
-
forming a whole or aggregate
-
of, done by, or characteristic of individuals acting in cooperation
noun
-
-
a cooperative enterprise or unit, such as a collective farm
-
the members of such a cooperative
-
-
short for collective noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of collective
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English collectif (from Middle French ), from Latin collēctīvus, equivalent to collēct(us) (past participle of colligere; see collect 1) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
Collective is a word that describes a group of people acting together. A prom might turn into a smashing success through the collective efforts of the student body. The word collective indicates a group, and is often used in opposition to the efforts or will of an individual. Your neighbor who is the only one on the block who refuses to mow her lawn? She's going against the collective. A commune is a type of collective living situation in which several families might live together and contribute for the benefit of the whole. If you work well with others, then you appreciate how collective efforts often have better results.
Vocabulary lists containing collective
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (1968)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" Vocabulary from the short story
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Want standout players or a more collective approach?
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Visitors to All the Rage will move between performances and exhibits throughout the office space, before coming together to watch a final collective performance.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Those years gave me an early and ugly lesson in mob mentality and collective cruelty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Through the cheers of an invigorated audience, Bourzgui went on to talk about how “theater is one of the last places people can come to worship the power of true collective human presence.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
The counseling did nothing at first—I can’t think of a single session I would describe as “helpful”—but their collective power over time was undeniable.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
