synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsi-nər-jē 

plural synergies

1

: synergism

broadly : combined action or operation

2

: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts)

Did you know?

An old saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", expresses the basic meaning of synergy. The word is sometimes used in a purely physical sense, especially when talking about drugs; sometimes a "cocktail" of drugs may be more effective than the sum of the effectiveness of each of the separate drugs. But the word is best known in the world of business. The notion that, when the right two companies merge, they'll produce a profitable synergy seemed exciting in the 1990s, when synergy became a trendy buzzword (even though it's actually been around since the 17th century). The idea of synergy was one factor in what became a "merger mania;" unfortunately, business synergy often turned out to be harder to achieve than to imagine.

Examples of synergy in a Sentence

A synergy has developed among the different groups working on this project.

two companies that have found synergy

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s no doubt there are synergies come with scale. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026

Israeli technology and Arab energy would create an amazing synergy for the age of artificial intelligence. —Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026

Vintage references and British tailoring are set against the democratic spirit of denim—a synergy both Coker and Topshop share. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

Capital One has a clear path to realizing synergies from its Discover acquisition, but investments to support growth are running high. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsin-ər-jē 

plural synergies

: synergism