collective

UK: /kəˈlɛktɪv/ US: /kəˈlɛktɪv/ ,(kə lek′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

col•lec•tive /kəˈlɛktɪv/   adj. 

1. formed by collection.
2. forming a whole;
   combined:
   our collective assets.
3. characteristic of a group:
   [before a noun] their collective will.
4. Government organized according to the principles of collectivism:
   [before a noun] a collective farm.

n. [countable]

5. Government an organization in a collectivist system, esp. a collective farm.

col•lec•tive•ly, adv.: 

They acted collectively in turning down the offer.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

col•lec•tive  (kə lek′tiv), adj. 

1. formed by collection.
2. forming a whole;
   combined:
   the collective assets of a corporation and its subsidiaries.
3. of or characteristic of a group of individuals taken together:
   the collective wishes of the membership.
4. Government organized according to the principles of collectivism:
   a collective farm.

n. 

5. Grammar See collective noun. 
6. a collective body;
   aggregate.
7. Government a business, farm, etc., jointly owned and operated by the members of a group.
8. Government a unit of organization or the organization in a collectivist system.

• Latin collēctīvus, equivalent. to collēct(us) (past participle of colligere; see collect¹) + -īvus -ive
• Middle French)
• late Middle English collectif (1400–50

col•lec′tive•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

collective / kəˈlɛktɪv/ adjective

1. formed or assembled by collection
2. forming a whole or aggregate
3. of, done by, or characteristic of individuals acting in cooperation

noun

1. a cooperative enterprise or unit, such as a collective farm
2. the members of such a cooperative
3. short for collective noun

colˈlectively adverb

colˈlectiveness noun