Definition of COLLECTIVE (original) (raw)
1
: denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole
flock is a collective word
3
a
: of, relating to, or being a group of individuals
b
: involving all members of a group as distinct from its individuals
4
: marked by similarity among or with the members of a group
the collective interests of the town
6
: shared or assumed by all members of the group
collective responsibility
the collective opinion of the staff
1
: a collective body : group
2
: a cooperative unit or organization
3
: a helicopter control system governing lift
Synonyms
Examples of collective in a Sentence
Adjective
We made a collective decision to go on strike. The incident became part of our collective memory. the collective wisdom of generations
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The earlier release plays to our collective nostalgia and is backed by data showing that limited-edition seasonal offerings drive foot traffic and online engagement. —
Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 In this capacity, the Chinese leadership can—and must—lead a collective effort to persuade Russia to secure its vulnerable warheads, drawing on its own expanding bilateral relationship with Moscow. —William M. Moon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
The striking new documentary No Other Land, directed by a four-person Israeli-Palestinian collective, was filmed largely between the years 2019 and 2023 in and around the southern West Bank community of Masafer Yatta. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 The jewelry collective uses 14kt gold fill that’s never inferior plated, alongside sterling silver, to make its assortment of offerings. —Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for collective 
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English collectif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin collēctīvus, going back to Late Latin, "comprehensive, (in logic and grammar) inferential," going back to Latin, "preceding by inference, deductive," from collēctus, past participle of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate, deduce, infer" + -īvus -ive — more at collect entry 2
Noun
derivative of collective entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of collective was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near collective
Cite this Entry
“Collective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collective. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 10 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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