Collaborative Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🤝

Add to dictionary

collaborative

[kəˈlabərədiv ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

work environment

Involving two or more people working together for a common goal. It emphasizes teamwork, cooperation, and shared responsibility.

Synonyms

collective, cooperative, joint, united.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collaborative	This word is used when people or groups work together smoothly and actively to achieve a common goal, often in creative or intellectual endeavors. The collaborative nature of the project allows every team member to contribute their expertise. They launched a collaborative research initiative to study climate change.
cooperative	Appropriate for situations where the focus is on willingness to work well with others, often emphasizing mutual assistance and harmonious effort. Her cooperative attitude made the negotiations much smoother. The cooperative relationship between the two organizations led to significant advancements.
joint	Used when referring to something done by two or more parties together, often in formal or official contexts. They signed a joint agreement to pursue new business opportunities. The countries engaged in a joint military exercise.
collective	Used when referring to actions, decisions, or ideas that involve everyone in a group and reflect a shared effort or consensus. The company made a collective decision to implement a four-day workweek. Their collective efforts resulted in a highly successful event.
united	Emphasizes a strong sense of being together and undivided, often used to describe groups of people in solidarity or with a common purpose. The team remained united despite the challenges they faced. The united efforts of the community helped rebuild the local park.

Examples of usage

The project was a collaborative effort between the marketing and design teams.
Our company values collaborative work that fosters creativity and innovation.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

education

A method of instruction where students work together in groups to achieve a common academic goal. It promotes peer learning and communication skills.

Synonyms

cooperative learning, group work, team-based learning.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collaborative	Used when individuals work together willingly to complete a task or achieve a goal, emphasizing equal participation and contribution. They engaged in a collaborative project to develop new software. The team adopted a collaborative approach to solve the company's challenges.
cooperative learning	Used in educational settings where students work together in small groups to help each other learn academic content. The teacher used cooperative learning techniques to ensure all students understood the material. Cooperative learning promotes engagement and teamwork among students.
group work	General term for any situation where individuals work together in groups, commonly used in various settings including education, workplaces, and community activities. Group work in the office helped improve overall productivity. In class, they often finished assignments through group work.
team-based learning	An educational strategy where students are organized into teams that work on assignments and problems, often with a focus on applying knowledge rather than just acquiring it. Team-based learning encourages students to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios. In medical school, team-based learning helps students understand complex cases.

Examples of usage

The teacher implemented a collaborative learning approach in the classroom.
Collaborative learning encourages students to share knowledge and solve problems together.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Education

Collaborative learning encourages students to work in groups, enhancing problem-solving and analytical skills.
Studies show that students engaged in collaborative projects tend to grasp concepts better than those working alone.

Business

Many modern companies adopt a collaborative approach to encourage teamwork, leading to more innovative solutions.
Remote work tools (like Slack and Zoom) have made collaboration across distances more seamless in recent years.

Psychology

Collaborative efforts can improve motivation, as people feel more accountable to their peers.
Working in groups can lead to a shared sense of purpose, boosting individual morale.

Technology

In the tech world, collaborative software (like Google Docs) allows multiple users to work on documents in real-time.
The rise of open-source projects relies heavily on collaboration among developers from various backgrounds.

Origin of 'collaborative'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from the Latin 'collaborare', which means 'to labor together'.
It has been used in English since the late 19th century, originally in artistic and scientific contexts.

The word 'collaborative' originates from the late 18th century, derived from the Latin word 'collaborat-' meaning 'worked with'. It gained popularity in the 20th century with the rise of collaborative work environments and educational practices.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,704 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

...
8701 framing
8702 hierarchical
8703 curtains
8704 collaborative
8705 startling
8706 strangely
8707 fuller
...