Collective
/kəˈlɛktɪv/
Definitions
2 meaningsDone by people acting as a group; shared or done by a group of people.
/kəˈlɛktɪv/
done by people acting as a group
They made a collective decision to postpone the event.
💡 Simply: Imagine a bunch of friends working together on a project. That's a collective effort! Like, collectively, they built a giant sandcastle.
👶 For kids: When everyone works together!
More Examples
The team showed collective responsibility for their win.
How It's Used
"The study examined collective action in social movements."
"The collective bargaining agreement ensured fair wages for workers."
A group of people or things considered as a whole.
/kəˈlɛktɪv/
a group of people or things
The farmworkers formed a collective to improve their working conditions.
💡 Simply: It's like a team, a club, or a group of things all together! Think of a collection of stamps – that's a collective of stamps!
👶 For kids: A group of things or people.
More Examples
A collective of artists exhibited their work at the gallery.
How It's Used
"The farmers formed a collective to market their produce."
"The artist's work explores the power of the collective unconscious."
From Late Latin collectivus, from colligere "to gather together", from com- "together" + legere "to gather, read".
The word 'collective' gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in discussions of social and political movements.
Memory tip
Think of 'collecting' things together – a collective effort involves many people working together.
Word Origin
"to gather together"