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

Derived Forms

• colˈlectively, adverb
• colˈlectiveness, noun

Other Words From

• col·lec·tive·ly adverb
• non·col·lec·tive adjective
• un·col·lec·tive 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

As our collective nervousness over AI grows each day, “The Wild Robot” emerges from the woods with a completely different take on a man-made being with the ability to learn.

From Los Angeles Times

The collective angst has so far not resulted in a massive protest and, as the Supreme Court once observed, politicians just “pass the buck” and wait for the season to get over.

From BBC

A group of residents at the Hollywood Arts Collective released a statement Thursday accusing Thomas Safran & Associates, the property management company, and the Entertainment Community Fund, which helped develop the project, of luring them into signing leases under false pretenses.

From Los Angeles Times

The Hollywood Arts Collective, an affordable housing complex for entertainment workers in Los Angeles, opened in April near the start of the WGA strike.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are saddened and disappointed that some residents of the Hollywood Arts Collective are unhappy with the property,” Pynes said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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