Collaborator: meaning, definitions and examples

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collaborator

 

[ kəˈlabəˌreɪtər ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

work

A person who works jointly on an activity or project.

Synonyms

associate, colleague, partner.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
collaborator

Used when referring to someone you work with on specific projects or tasks, often implying a more temporary or project-based relationship.

  • She is my collaborator on the research project about climate change.
  • Artists and scientists often find valuable collaborators outside their usual fields.
partner

Can imply a closer, long-term, or more formal working relationship, often in a business or professional context. Could also refer to someone who shares ownership or significant stake in a business.

  • He is my business partner and has been for over a decade.
  • Our company partnered with a tech startup to develop new software.
associate

Typically used in a professional or business setting, referring to someone you work with, possibly in a subordinate role, or someone who is part of the same organization.

  • He is an associate at the law firm.
  • Our new associate will help us with administrative tasks.
colleague

General term for someone you work with, usually in the same organization or profession. Often implies a more equal standing.

  • She invited several of her colleagues to the dinner party.
  • My colleagues and I are working on improving company policies.

Examples of usage

  • He is a key collaborator on the research project.
  • The team of collaborators worked together to achieve success.
Context #2 | Noun

crime

A person who cooperates traitorously with an enemy.

Synonyms

double agent, informant, traitor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
collaborator

This can be used to describe someone working together with another person or group on a project or goal. It's often a neutral term.

  • Sarah is a wonderful collaborator on our new marketing campaign.
  • As a collaborator, John has brought many innovative ideas to the team.
traitor

This word describes someone who betrays their country, friends, or cause. It has a strong negative connotation.

  • Judas Iscariot is a famous traitor in history and religion.
  • The general was labeled a traitor after selling secret military plans to the enemy.
informant

Typically refers to someone who provides information, often secretly, to authorities or organizations. It can carry a slightly negative connotation.

  • The police relied on an informant to gather intel on the gang.
  • In the film, an informant reveals the hidden criminal activities to the detective.
double agent

This term is used in espionage to describe someone who pretends to spy for one side while actually spying for another. It's generally negative.

  • The double agent fed false information to the enemy while working for our side.
  • In many spy movies, the double agent plays a crucial role in the plot.

Examples of usage

  • The spy was identified as a collaborator with the enemy forces.
  • She was accused of being a collaborator and sentenced accordingly.
Context #3 | Verb

work

To work jointly on an activity or project.

Synonyms

cooperate, team up, work together.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
collaborator

Typically used in professional or academic settings to describe someone who works jointly on an activity or project.

  • She is a frequent collaborator with many international researchers.
  • Our company is an official collaborator on the new environmental initiative.
cooperate

Used to describe the act of working together towards a common goal, often implies a willingness to help each other.

  • If we all cooperate, we can finish the project ahead of schedule.
  • The police asked the public to cooperate in their investigation.
work together

A general term that can be used in both professional and casual settings to describe collaborating on any task or activity.

  • We need to work together to resolve this issue.
  • The group works together very efficiently.
team up

Often used in more casual or informal settings to describe partnering with someone for a specific task or purpose.

  • Let's team up to tackle this assignment.
  • They decided to team up for the school science fair.

Examples of usage

  • The two companies decided to collaborate on a new product line.
  • We should collaborate more effectively to reach our goals.

Translations

Translations of the word "collaborator" in other languages:

🇵🇹 colaborador

🇮🇳 सहयोगी

🇩🇪 Mitarbeiter

🇮🇩 kolaborator

🇺🇦 співробітник

🇵🇱 współpracownik

🇯🇵 協力者 (きょうりょくしゃ)

🇫🇷 collaborateur

🇪🇸 colaborador

🇹🇷 işbirlikçi

🇰🇷 협력자 (협력자)

🇸🇦 متعاون

🇨🇿 spolupracovník

🇸🇰 spolupracovník

🇨🇳 合作者 (hézuòzhě)

🇸🇮 sodelavec

🇮🇸 samstarfsmaður

🇰🇿 әріптес

🇬🇪 თანამშრომელი

🇦🇿 əməkdaş

🇲🇽 colaborador

Etymology

The word 'collaborator' originated from the late 19th century, from the Latin word 'collaborat-' meaning 'worked together'. Initially, it was used in a neutral sense to describe people working together on a project. However, during World War II, the term took on a negative connotation due to its association with those who cooperated with enemy forces. Since then, 'collaborator' has been used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on the nature of the collaboration.

See also: collab, collaborating, collaboration, collaborative, collaboratively, collaborators.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,362, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.