collegial

adjective

col·​le·​gial kə-ˈlē-j(ē-)əl 

 especially for sense 2a also  -ˈlē-gē-əl

1

: collegiate sense 2

2

a

: marked by power or authority vested equally in each of a number of colleagues

There was an increasing tendency to turn from collegial to one-man management.

—Merle Fainsod

b

: characterized by equal sharing of authority especially by Roman Catholic bishops

a collegial church

3

: marked by camaraderie among colleagues

collegial relationships among faculty members

collegially adverb

Synonyms

• amicable
• bonhomous
• buddy-buddy
• chummy
• companionable
• comradely
• cordial
• friendly
• genial
• hail-fellow
• hail-fellow-well-met
• hearty
• matey [chiefly British]
• neighborly
• palsy
• palsy-walsy [slang]
• warm
• warmhearted

Examples of collegial in a Sentence

company luncheons that are designed to instill a collegial spirit among coworkers

Recent Examples on the Web

The Missouri Senate’s more collegial atmosphere this year, after pointed infighting in recent years, collapsed on Wednesday. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025

Pritchard describes a relaxed, collegial creative process – one by two legends who, if anything, might have been too deferential. —Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 7 May 2025

Becoming someone who is cooperative, collegial, open-minded, flexible, and interconnected is what truly enables effective engagement with others and AI. —Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

This is so bad that his stalking and threatening Elsbeth at a subway station almost seems like a bit of collegial high spirits in comparison. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see college

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1