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

Related Words

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