collective

American  

[kuh-lek-tiv] / kəˈlɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. formed by collection.

2. forming a whole; combined.

   the collective assets of a corporation and its subsidiaries.

3. of or characteristic of a group of individuals taken together.

   the collective wishes of the membership.

4. organized according to the principles of collectivism.

   a collective farm.

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noun

collectives plural

1. collective noun.

2. a collective body; group.

3. a business, farm, etc., jointly owned and operated by the members of a group.

4. a unit of organization or the organization in a collectivist system.

collective British  

/ kəˈlɛktɪv /

adjective

1. formed or assembled by collection

2. forming a whole or aggregate

3. of, done by, or characteristic of individuals acting in cooperation

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noun

1. 1. a cooperative enterprise or unit, such as a collective farm

   2. the members of such a cooperative

2. short for collective noun

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• collectiveness
  noun
• noncollective
  adjective
• uncollective
  adjective
• collectively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• collectives
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

When a compromise was finally struck at roughly $60 million last month, the collective sigh of relief from China’s 200-million-strong soccer fan base was instantly met with the familiar sting of being one of them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

A pair of acoustic guitars chimed in, and suddenly we were transported to a fictional Pittsburgh hospital to relive our collective heartbreak over a beloved character’s death.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Last year, BlackRock partnered with Great Gray Trust Company to launch Panorix Target Date Series—a group of target-date funds structured as collective investment trusts or CITs, incorporating BlackRock’s private investments.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Better simulations are important for understanding biological processes, crowd behavior, and the collective motion of animals.

From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026

“It’s a probability Adinkra symbol. When two chain links with a pure bond are touching each other, their collective path becomes visible,” Ama explains.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• concerted
• corporate
• cumulative
• mutual
• shared
• unified