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

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

Then begins the period of the conclave, the collegial gathering of all the cardinal electors who will meet in the Vatican to elect Francis’s successor. —Paolo Armelli, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025

Since the Israel-Hamas war, relationships between some students have been nowhere near brotherly, let alone collegial. —Stephen Humphries, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025

Image The tone was collegial as officials discussed strategies for improving the health of tribal communities, often with consensus. —Emily Baumgaertner Nunn, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see college

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1