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

The speaker conjures up centuries of collective sagacity, aligning oneself with an eternal, inarguable good.

From The Daily Beast

We haven't had any real fan reaction yet, but our collective fingers are crossed.

From The Daily Beast

The gym—a fragile collective of human ecology at the best of times—has suddenly become even more tense.

From The Daily Beast

The trio formed the Sad Boys collective, with Sherm and Gud on production and Lean manning the mic.

From The Daily Beast

Until recently, the hacker collective known as Lizard Squad was all but unknown.

From The Daily Beast

A resolute push for quite a short period now might reconstruct the entire basis of our collective human life.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the present order and with the present gloomy preconceptions they have been the least of its collective cares.

From Project Gutenberg

This can be done, as with the minimum wage, partly by positive legislation and partly collective action.

From Project Gutenberg

This act is performed by the Christian church in a collective ecclesiastical capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

I can find no authority for making it a collective noun, as Bell suggests.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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