synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsi-nər-jē 

plural synergies

1

: synergism

broadly : combined action or operation

2

: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts)

Did you know?

An old saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", expresses the basic meaning of synergy. The word is sometimes used in a purely physical sense, especially when talking about drugs; sometimes a "cocktail" of drugs may be more effective than the sum of the effectiveness of each of the separate drugs. But the word is best known in the world of business. The notion that, when the right two companies merge, they'll produce a profitable synergy seemed exciting in the 1990s, when synergy became a trendy buzzword (even though it's actually been around since the 17th century). The idea of synergy was one factor in what became a "merger mania;" unfortunately, business synergy often turned out to be harder to achieve than to imagine.

Examples of synergy in a Sentence

A synergy has developed among the different groups working on this project.

two companies that have found synergy

Recent Examples on the Web

However, the more interesting question is what synergies exist between them, and how to design investments that enable both. —Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Twenty-five years later, their creative synergy has only strengthened. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026

But an overreliance on technology could intefere with the trial and error, frustration and synergy that are necessary parts of a musician’s artistic development, Mannion said. —Mustakim Hasnath, Fortune, 30 May 2026

Is Margo’s alien from Margo’s Got Money Troubles going to meet Kelly on the other side of that lake in a hilarious moment of Apple TV corporate synergy? —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsin-ər-jē 

plural synergies

: synergism