collective

adjective

col·lec·tive | \ kə-ˈlek-tiv

Definition of collective

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole flock is a collective word

2a : formed by collecting : aggregated

b of a fruit : multiple

3a : 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

collective

noun

Definition of collective (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a collective body : group a social collective

2 : a cooperative unit or organization specifically : collective farm

3 : a helicopter control system governing lift

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Examples of collective in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Blues Traveler did have other things on its collective mind -- including three management changes in a short span of time that waylaid the quintet's forward progress. — Gary Graff, Billboard, "Blues Traveler Shares 'Accelerated Nation' Lyric Video From Upcoming Album: Premiere," 13 July 2018 The class took his victory as collective victory — living proof that Healers could be healed. — Mike Newall, Philly.com, "Meet the Healers, young black men turning their trauma into something that helps others | Mike Newall," 13 July 2018 Once again, Melania Trump has stepped onto the international stage in the traditional role of first lady: an emissary of the American people, a symbol of our collective humanity - and a fashion mannequin of soft diplomacy. — Robin Givhan, Houston Chronicle, "Nothing else Melania Trump wears will ever matter again," 13 July 2018 The collective silence by the left and its media allies is appalling. — Brian Flood, Fox News, "Samantha Bee speaks out about crude Ivanka Trump rant, says uproar affected her ‘a lot’," 13 July 2018 The Los Angeles artist is transforming the museum project room into a stage — or perhaps an elaborate green room — for collective works that explore issues of migration and colonization. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: Shots of old Route 66, dreamlike paintings and garments fashioned from paper," 12 July 2018 The band also felt the need to keep their collective feet on the gas pedal for fear that their success could go away at any time. — Alan Sculley, kansascity, "Imagine Dragons: ‘Evolve’ show is ‘the most complicated production’ they’ve done," 11 July 2018 The paper confirmed Estes’s suspicion that the collective drone of bull wildebeests’ mating calls had a significant effect on the ovulation of females. — Ryan P. Smith, Smithsonian, "How Noisy Males Control the Gnu’s Cycle," 11 July 2018 Ben Blackwell, Jack White's nephew and head of Third Man Records’ vinyl operation, got an early glimpse of the song’s collective power when the White Stripes played Belgium’s Pukkelpop festival in August 2004. — Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit's global sports anthem: The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Upset over the incident and the country’s high rate of femicide, 40,000 women marched onto Buenos Aires’ Congress, and a collective of women founded the anti-femicide Ni Una Menos movement. — Amanda Arnold, The Cut, "Everything to Know About Argentina’s Major Abortion Vote," 12 June 2018 Swann and King were inspired by previous collectivist actions, including the Garden City movement in the United Kingdom, Israeli collectives, and land-reform activists in India. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "A collective land-ownership model could put the brakes on rising real estate costs.," 17 Apr. 2018 Why were the dancers, a collective of international artists, pressing their faces against the curb? — Bethany Ao, Philly.com, "PIFA's 'Tape Riot' is surprising, confusing, and unexpected," 5 June 2018 Until we, as Americans, purposefully create classrooms that treat boys and girls exactly the same, prioritizing the collective is necessary. — WSJ, "There Are Reasons for Using Identity Politics," 3 June 2018 Around the corner is Aether by Architecture Social Club, a British collective of designers, architects, technicians and poets. — Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, "First look: The Cottonmouth Club," 11 Apr. 2018 Riley, 47, is the founder of the rap collective The Coup, and had been in the music business for 25 years before the release of his first film. — Peter Hartlaub, SFChronicle.com, "Made-in-Oakland ‘Sorry to Bother You’ opens huge in seven cities," 10 July 2018 Cassius' success raises concerns for his girlfriend, Detroit (Thompson), a sign-twirling gallery artist who is secretly part of a Banksy-style collective. — Tre'vell Anderson, latimes.com, "Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson aren't 'Sorry to Bother You' or the status quo," 28 June 2018 And that, ladies and gents, was the beginning of ColorComm, the collective of women of color in communications who are all seeking like-minded women to connect, grow and create professional and personal bonds. — Danielle Young, The Root, "ColorComm’s Young, Fabulous and Fly Creator Lauren Wesley Wilson Shares Her Goals For Black Women in Business," 2 June 2018

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.