collective

[ kuh-lek-tiv ]

/ kəˈlɛk tɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR collective ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

collective noun.

a collective body; aggregate.

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.

Nearby words

collecting tubule, collection, collection agency, collection box, collection plate, collective, collective agreement, collective bargaining, collective behavior, collective farm, collective fruit

Origin of collective

1400–50; late Middle English collectif (< Middle French) < Latin collēctīvus, equivalent to collēct(us) (past participle of colligere; see collect¹) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

col·lec·tive·ly, adverbnon·col·lec·tive, adjectivenon·col·lec·tive·ly, adverbun·col·lec·tive, adjective

un·col·lec·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for collective

The speaker conjures up centuries of collective sagacity, aligning oneself with an eternal, inarguable good.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We haven't had any real fan reaction yet, but our collective fingers are crossed.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The collective had threatened attacks on theaters if the movie was not pulled.
Hackers: Sony ‘Very Wise’ to Pull Film|The Daily Beast|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Please know she has a very special place in our collective hearts.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter|Christopher Moraff|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There was a collective gasp at both the four-letter word and the bitter sentiment it carried.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America|David Yaffe, Scott Saul|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In addition to the large number of collective books of poetry, Zunser has published his poems in: Jd.
The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth Century|Leo Wiener
The winter was of the description least favourable to collective boyish sports, as there was no snow and very little frost.
Magnum Bonum|Charlotte M. Yonge
In the chapter on "Collective Behavior" which follows, materials will be presented to exhibit the group in action.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
But it was indirectly perhaps that his work contributed most effectively to the doctrine of the Progress of collective mankind.
The Idea of Progress|J. B. Bury
It giggled till its collective sides must have ached; then it slowly and gaspingly subsided.
The Madigans|Miriam Michelson

British Dictionary definitions for collective

collective

/ (kəˈlɛktɪv) /

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

Derived Forms

collectively, adverbcollectiveness, noun

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

collective

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of collective

Related forms

Examples from the Web for collective

British Dictionary definitions for collective

collective

adjective

noun

Derived Forms