syndicate

1 of 2

verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-də-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

transitive verb

1

: to subject to or manage as a syndicate

2

a

: to sell (something, such as a cartoon) to a syndicate or for publication in many newspapers or periodicals at once

also : to sell the work of (someone, such as a writer) in this way

a syndicated columnist

b

: to sell (something, such as a series of television programs) directly to local stations

intransitive verb

: to unite to form a syndicate

syndicator

ˈsin-də-ˌkā-tər 

noun

syndication

2 of 2

noun

syn·​di·​ca·​tion ˌsin-də-ˈkā-shən 

1

: an act or instance of forming a syndicate or bringing something under the control of a syndicate

real estate syndication

2

a

: the act of selling something (such as a newspaper column or television series) for publication or broadcast to multiple newspapers, periodicals, websites, stations, etc.

the syndication of news articles and video footage

b

: the state of being syndicated to multiple newspapers, periodicals, websites, stations, etc.

a popular TV show that has made millions in syndication

Examples of syndicate in a Sentence

Verb

The company syndicates her work.

The company syndicated the show to local stations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Preceding this article, which was syndicated to other newspapers, an announcement for the wedding was serialized in USA Today. —Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026

This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. —Janko Roettgers, The Verge, 28 May 2026

Noun

He-Man and co would earn hundreds of millions of dollars for Mattel, as 130 episodes of He-Man-vs-Skeletor action were repeated again and again — and again and again — in syndication across the US. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026

The basic idea is that California cannot rely entirely on private developers and tax-credit syndication to solve the housing crisis. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing syndicate

• in syndication

Kids Definition

syndicate

1 of 2 noun

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-kət 

1

: an association of persons involved in some official duty or business

2

: an association of people involved in organized crime

3

: a business concern that sells materials for publication at the same time in a number of newspapers or magazines

syndicate

2 of 2 verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-də-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

1

: to operate as a syndicate

2

: to sell (as a cartoon) for publication in several newspapers or magazines at once

also : to sell the work of (as a writer) in this way

a syndicated columnist

3

: to join to form a syndicate

syndication

ˌsin-də-ˈkā-shən 

noun

syndicator

ˈsin-də-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

syndicate

1 of 2 noun

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-kət 

1

: a group organized to carry out a particular transaction or enterprise

2

: an association of organized criminals

syndicate

2 of 2 verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

transitive verb

: to form or manage as or through a syndicate

a syndicated tax shelter

intransitive verb

: to unite to form a syndicate

syndication

ˌsin-di-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Etymology

Noun

French syndicat the office or jurisdiction of a syndic