collective

adjective col·lec·tive \ kə-ˈlek-tiv \

Definition of collective

1 :denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole

flock is a collective word

2 a :formed by collecting :aggregated

b of a fruit :multiple

3 a :of, relating to, or being a group of individuals

b :involving all members of a group as distinct from its individuals

a collective action

4 :marked by similarity among or with the members of a group

the collective interests of the town

5 :collectivized or characterized by collectivism

collective farming

collective communities

6 :shared or assumed by all members of the group

collective responsibility

the collective opinion of the staff

collective guilt

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collectively

adverb

See collective defined for English-language learners

See collective defined for kids

Examples of collective in a Sentence

We made a collective decision to go on strike.
The incident became part of our collective memory.
the collective wisdom of generations

Recent Examples of collective from the Web

These collective images promote the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

— Cincinnati.com, "White to help kick off Down Syndrome Awareness Month," 30 Aug. 2017
P.O.S. hails from Minneapolis and is part of Doomtree, a hip hop collective that in my mind puts out some of the best lyrical, hard-hitting, socially-conscious and always-intriguing hip hop.

— chris haghirian,, kansascity, "Concert Chris: 100+ shows on the September radar," 29 Aug. 2017
That request was denied by Goodell, who under Article 46 of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, is given the authority to hear the case himself or appoint a designee.

— clarence e. hill jr., star-telegram, "Elliott’s request for a ‘truly’ independent appeals arbitrator denied by NFL," 28 Aug. 2017
The necessity of improving their abilities, while sharpening a collective focus, is imperative if the Redwings are to return downstate.

— rich mayor, Naperville Sun, "Girls volleyball preview: Lilly Johnson a launching pad for Benet's offense," 24 Aug. 2017
While the overthinking American depressive in me wishes this was a collective cultural response to the misogynist-in-chief currently running things, of course that’s silly.

— steve erickson, Los Angeles Magazine, "With Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron Thrusts Another Dagger into Old Hollywood," 22 Aug. 2017
And then, in the hours and days after a participant drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring at least 19 others, internet companies undertook a collective purge.

— john herrman, New York Times, "How Hate Groups Forced Online Platforms to Reveal Their True Nature," 21 Aug. 2017
Collective Retreats is a group of glamping getaways that creates personalized experiences (culinary, events, local exploration) for each party that visits.

— perri ormont blumberg, Bon Appetit, "8 Ideas for a Healthyish Bachelorette Party Weekend," 8 Aug. 2017
But, despite their collective weight, his team has been operating mostly on the defense.

— emily jane fox, The Hive, "Jared Kushner’s Dream Team Goes Full Speed," 26 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'collective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of collective

see ²collect

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

collective Synonyms

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

collective

noun

Definition of collective

1 :a collective body :group

a social collective

2 :a cooperative unit or organization; specifically :collective farm

3 :a helicopter control system governing lift

See collective defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of collective from the Web

Launched by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and run by Rodriguez and his artistic collective, El Rey Holdings, LLC oversees El Rey Network and El Rey Studios.

— posted jim varsallone, miamiherald, "Joey Ryan, feud of sons on Lucha Underground on El Rey Network," 29 Aug. 2017
The collective of onlookers and distraught family members were eerily silent — none wanted to talk to a reporter about the shooting or the victim.

— toriano porter, kansascity, "KCK neighborhood quiet after juvenile shot, killed Thursday on North Tremont Street," 17 Aug. 2017
Supervisors Dianne Jacob, Bill Horn and Kristin Gaspar also imposed a five-year sunset on existing collectives, meaning that previously approved dispensaries and pot companies would no longer be permitted by 2022.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pot shop interests sue San Diego County over ban on new operators," 11 Aug. 2017
Some showstoppers include a huge, pagoda-wearing wolf by the creative collective Electric Coffin, Casey Curran’s exquisitely odd kinetic sculptures, and Dylan Neuwirth’s neon installations that are perfectly placed to activate their spaces.

— gayle clemans, The Seattle Times, "Review: ‘Out of Sight’ offers a good look at Pacific Northwest art scene," 7 Aug. 2017
The New York Times' photography blog shows the labors of Anita Pouchard Serra, who's documenting how some collectives of Argentinians are using low- and medium-power radio stations as a primary means of communicating.

— vanityfair.com, "Trump’s Emotional Roller Coaster Jumps the Tracks," 17 July 2017
Philippine authorities now refer to them as a collective.

— norman p aquino, Bloomberg.com, "Is Islamic State Threat Shifting to Philippines?: QuickTake Q&A," 19 June 2017
Real violence directed against members of an identity collective is the gravest imaginable challenge to the group’s legitimacy.

— j.m. berger, The Atlantic, "London and the Clash of the Extremists," 19 June 2017
From 1989 onward, the collective has been tracking gender representation in some of the world’s most well-renowned art institutions, and the male gaze remains alive and well.

— dayna evans, The Cut, "The Female Artists Exploring Women’s Sexuality Through Their Work," 19 June 2017