collaboration

[ kuh-lab-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of working together or cooperating:

   Chat tools provide opportunity for real-time collaboration and dialogue.

2. a product resulting from working together or cooperating:

   This dictionary is a collaboration of many minds.

Other Words From

• non·col·lab·o·ra·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of collaboration¹

First recorded in 1855–60; from French, from Late Latin collabōrāt ( us ) ( collaborate ) + French -ion -ion

Example Sentences

This research is one of several discoveries on African chemical compounds that came from the collaboration between Wistar and the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, which began in 2021.

From Science Daily

The research, a collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, studied over 2.5 million buildings across eight cities using an emerging sustainable cities measure, known as the '3-30-300' rule.

From Science Daily

However, Cothran's new research collaboration, led by the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, has uncovered that the Y chromosome does have meaningful variation and is important for species diversity.

From Science Daily

Now, a multidisciplinary team of Michigan State University researchers, in collaboration with experts from Karolinska Institute and the University of California, Berkeley, has pioneered a way to do just that.

From Science Daily

It featured a styling suite, where Marquez styled special guests and athletes in the new collection, along with custom pieces she made in collaboration with Sailor D. Gonzales and Rusty Reconstructed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• association
• collusion
• combination
• concert
• participation
• partnership
• teamwork

More About Collaboration

What does collaboration mean?

Collaboration is the act of working together, especially on a goal or shared project.

It can also be used to refer to a product of collaboration, as in The new single is a  collaboration from the two pop stars. 

Collaboration is the noun form of the verb collaborate, meaning to work together.

Collaboration is often used in a positive context to refer to two or more parties successfully working together on professional or artistic projects. It often implies not just cooperation but sharing and developing of each other’s ideas.

Such a joint effort can be described with the adjective collaborative. People who collaborate are called collaborators.

Collaboration can also be used in a much more specific way referring to cooperation as a traitor with enemy forces in one’s own country. This is much less commonly used than its general sense.

Example: This project would not have happened without close collaboration between all the departments. 

Where does collaboration come from?

The first records of the word collaboration come from around 1860. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb collabōrāre. The prefix col- is a variant of com-, meaning “together.” At the heart of the word is labor, meaning “work.”

Collaboration can be used in any context in which people work together: art, business, education—the collaborative possibilities are endless. The word is often used to refer to a creative give-and-take, such as a collaboration between two artists to paint a mural, or to a joint professional undertaking, such as collaboration between different departments on a report. It’s typically used in the context of some project or goal, whereas the word cooperation is often used more broadly.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of collaboration?

 

• collaborate (verb)
• collaborative (adjective)
• collaboratively (adverb)

 

What are some synonyms for collaboration?

• cooperation

What are some words that share a root or word element with collaboration? 

• labor
• collect

What are some words that often get used in discussing collaboration?

• project
• task
• process
• method
• cooperative
• joint

How is collaboration used in real life?

Collaboration can be used for many different situations, and is particularly associated with cooperative processes that are creative or artistic.

Ahead of the release of "Chromatica" tonight, @LadyGaga dropped her collaboration with #Blackpink, ‘Sour Candy’ – listen to it here https://t.co/c8bjYkkLZQ

— Variety (@Variety) May 28, 2020

Introducing the #ABetterTomorrow collection, a collaboration between @JimWatsonOttawa and @WuTangClan @36ChambersALC. The Collection includes three products that will collectively benefit @OttawaFoodBank, @OttawaMission and @CHEO. Shop here: https://t.co/JZkazxitBx. #ottcity pic.twitter.com/5hqUWldjZg

— CTVMorningLiveOttawa (@CTVOttMornLive) May 20, 2020

That's the piece that sticks with me as well. I feel more collaboration and less confrontation generally makes for a better outcome.

— Doug Sartori (@doug_sartori) May 28, 2020

 

 

Try using collaboration!

Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used in reference to a successful collaboration?

A. collective
B. uncooperative
C. joint
D. coordinating