collective

1 of 2

adjective

col·​lec·​tive kə-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole

flock is a collective word

2

a

: formed by collecting : aggregated

b

of a fruit : multiple

3

a

: of, relating to, or being a group of individuals

b

: involving all members of a group as distinct from its individuals

a collective action

4

: marked by similarity among or with the members of a group

the collective interests of the town

5

: collectivized or characterized by collectivism

collective farming

collective communities

6

: shared or assumed by all members of the group

collective responsibility

the collective opinion of the staff

collective guilt

collectively adverb

collective

2 of 2

noun

1

: a collective body : group

a social collective

2

: a cooperative unit or organization

specifically : collective farm

3

: a helicopter control system governing lift

Synonyms

Adjective

• collaborative
• combined
• common
• communal
• concerted
• conjoint
• conjunct
• cooperative
• joint
• multiple
• mutual
• pooled
• public
• shared
• united

Examples of collective in a Sentence

Adjective

We made a collective decision to go on strike.

The incident became part of our collective memory.

the collective wisdom of generations

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Given the horrendous commodification of the enslaved woman’s reproductive system, the use of folk-medicine abortifacients like sage tea and cotton root functioned as a form of collective defiance. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024

Throughout the event, guests mingled, exchanged ideas, and were reminded of the power of collective action. —Sam Falb, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2024

Noun

Two years ago, for example, the Anti-Defamation League published the membership records of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia; the files had been stolen by a hacking collective called Distributed Denial of Secrets. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024

From mid April to mid May 1874, a new collective called the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, Etc. displayed art at the studio of the famous photographer Felix Nadar. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English collectif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin collēctīvus, going back to Late Latin, "comprehensive, (in logic and grammar) inferential," going back to Latin, "preceding by inference, deductive," from collēctus, past participle of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, deduce, infer" + -īvus -ive — more at collect entry 2

Noun

derivative of collective entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing collective

• collective bargaining
• collective farm
• collective mark
• collective noun
• collective security
• collective unconscious

Kids Definition

collective

1 of 2 adjective

col·​lec·​tive kə-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: having to do with a number of persons or things considered as one group

"flock" is a collective noun

2

: formed by collecting

3

: of, relating to, or involving all members of a group

the collective feelings of the team

collective legal action

4

: shared or done by a number of persons as a group

a collective effort

collectively adverb

collective

2 of 2 noun

1

: a collective body : group

2

: a cooperative unit or organization

Legal Definition

collective

adjective

col·​lec·​tive kə-ˈlek-tiv 

: involving all members of a group as distinct from individual members

collectively adverb