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

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

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

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; collect ¹ ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

To pull back from that, I think, would upend decades of settled practice and be a real step back for our collective understanding of the presidency.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

But it demonstrates that “the alliance can achieve deterrence through collective action.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

All this is happening with uncertainty about a possible MLB lockout when the current collective bargaining agreement runs out and not knowing what changes might happen to the draft.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The Communist Party of Vietnam has always preferred collective leadership shared among the four most senior national positions, now expanded to five, known as the "five pillars".

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Instead of allowing each officer to rely on his or her own limited experience and biases in detecting suspicious behavior, a drug-courier profile affords every officer the advantage of the agency’s collective experience and expertise.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

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