collective

[kuh-lek-tiv]

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.

noun

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

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of collective¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English collectif (from Middle French ), from Latin collēctīvus, equivalent to collēct(us) (past participle of colligere; collect ¹ ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

With their latest studio album, “The Clearing,” the members are primed for the next level of success in the U.S., and it comes via songs that reflect their growth as individuals and as a collective.

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“This means ensuring the highest readiness of our service members, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defense and that the defense industrial base is meeting our needs.”

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Music may be permitted to speak not of specifics but the essence of grief, a collective cherishing of existence.

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The movie itself seems likely to de-resolve in the collective memory within 29 minutes.

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The Moroccan government on Thursday made fresh calls for dialogue with the youth collective GenZ 212, whose members have been staging nationwide protests since late September to demand reforms and a change of government.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• concerted 
• corporate 
• cumulative 
• mutual 
• shared www.thesaurus.com
• unified www.thesaurus.com