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)

aggregated, aggregating

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)

aggregated, aggregating

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

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

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

The tax agency has already sent out more refunds than last year and paid out more in the aggregate, he noted.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

That’s expected to squeeze household budgets and slowly eat away at consumer demand, slowing both aggregate spending and economic growth this year.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The PEG ratio for tech is now below that of the global aggregate market, another green flag for budding “valuation opportunities.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

They ran away with the tie against Chelsea in the last round, winning 8-2 on aggregate.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The Americas, despite their large aggregate area, were fragmented by geography and ecology and functioned effectively as several poorly connected smaller continents.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• accumulated
• combined
• corporate
• cumulative