Collective

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kəˈlÉ›ktɪv/
• Hyphenation: col + lec + tive; Hyphenation: col + lect + ive

Origin

From Middle French collectif, from Latin collectivus, from collectus, past participle of colligere ("to collect"), from com- ("together") + legere ("to gather"). Compare French collectif.

Full definition of collective

Adjective

1. Formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or body; congregated or aggregated; as, the collective body of a nation.
2. (obsolete) Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring.
• Sir Thomas Brownecritical and collective reason
3. (grammar) Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form; as, a collective name or noun, like assembly, army, jury, etc.
4. Tending to collect; forming a collection.
• YoungLocal is his throne ... to fix a point,
  A central point, collective of his sons.
5. Having plurality of origin or authority; as, in diplomacy, a note signed by the representatives of several governments is called a collective note.

Derived terms

• collectiveness
• collectively

Related terms

• collect
• collectible
• collection
• collectivity
• collector

Noun

1. A farm owned by a collection of people.
2. (grammar) A collective noun or name.
3. (by extension) A group dedicated to a particular cause or interest.
• 2005, Zoya Kocur, Simon Leung, Theory in contemporary art since 1985 (page 76)There are, however, a number of contemporary artists and art collectives that have defined their practice precisely around the facilitation of dialogue among diverse communities.

Derived terms

• collectivize
• collective noun