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collective security

British

noun

a system of maintaining world peace and security by concerted action on the part of the nations of the world

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Though “American hegemony” offered some benefits—“open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes”—it also required collective self-deception.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after it invoked Nato's collective security clause following the 9/11 terror attacks.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

During his campaign for the post, Philippe said: "My objective is clear: to consolidate the role of the organisation as a global reference for collective security."

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

“We will have to decide how best to protect our security interests, which, as allies, should be our collective security interests,” he added.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2024

Yet it has not been able to impair the principle of collective security.

From State of the Union Address by Truman, Harry S.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023