synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsi-nər-jē How to pronounce synergy (audio)
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 The participants also called for better cooperation and more synergies between governments and the companies, with adequate financing, flexibility in regulation, cutting red-tape or addressing different national standards, the people said. Jorge Valero, Bloomberg.com, 14 Mar. 2024 The extraordinary synergy among these innovations was what powered the second technological wave. Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2024 Amidst this hiring spree, discerning the nuanced differences and synergies between tax strategists and CPAs becomes paramount. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The Hamilton doc likely will be timed for optimal synergy with the Pitt project in 2025. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Take mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which focus on synergies and the financial gains from combining two businesses. Ryan Wong, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Similar to the synergy of the Rock ‘N Wrestling Era, Slaughter’s popularity was heightened by the rise of GI-Joe action figures and cartoons, where Slaughter was a central figure. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Adding the element of a tie-in with an anime series, especially one being distributed worldwide on Netflix and other global platforms, to the synergy brings a song to the forefront of public attention. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 22 Feb. 2024 And because this is Beyoncé and the synergy is real, her website and social media accounts shared a video teasing the release of Renaissance: Act II on March 29. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'synergy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synergy was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near synergy

Cite this Entry

“Synergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synergy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

synergy

noun
syn·​er·​gy ˈsin-ər-jē How to pronounce synergy (audio)
plural synergies

More from Merriam-Webster on synergy

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