col·lec·tive
kə-ˈlek-tiv 
1
: denoting a number of persons or things considered as one group or whole
flock is a collective word
2
a
: formed by collecting : aggregated
b
of a fruit
: multiple
3
a
: of, relating to, or being a group of individuals
b
: involving all members of a group as distinct from its individuals
a collective action
4
: marked by similarity among or with the members of a group
the collective interests of the town
5
: collectivized or characterized by collectivism
collective farming
collective communities
6
: shared or assumed by all members of the group
collective responsibility
the collective opinion of the staff
collective guilt
collectively
adverb
1
: a collective body : group
a social collective
2
: a cooperative unit or organization
specifically
: collective farm
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
Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2024
In the fall he was fined a collective $15,000 for two violations in his civil fraud trial — one instance which resulted in Trump unexpectedly being called up to the witness stand.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 30 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for collective 
Adjective
So many of his recent actions are making people rethink our collective decision to embrace him in the first place way back when.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2024
In the fall he was fined a collective $15,000 for two violations in his civil fraud trial — one instance which resulted in Trump unexpectedly being called up to the witness stand.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 30 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for collective
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'collective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near collective
Cite this Entry
“Collective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collective. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
collective
1 of 2 adjective
col·lec·tive
kə-ˈlek-tiv
1
: having to do with a number of persons or things considered as one group
"flock" is a collective noun
2
: formed by collecting
3
: of, relating to, or involving all members of a group
the collective feelings of the team
collective legal action
4
: shared or done by a number of persons as a group
a collective effort
collectively
adverb
collective
2 of 2 noun1
: a collective body : group
2
: a cooperative unit or organization
Legal Definition
collective
adjective
col·lec·tive
kə-ˈlek-tiv
: involving all members of a group as distinct from individual members
collectively
adverb
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