# collective

> English word · Adjective · IPA /kəˈlɛktɪv/ · frequency rank #4,290

## Definitions
1. Formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or body.
2. Tending to collect; forming a collection.
3. Having plurality of origin or authority.
4. Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form.
5. Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring.

## Etymology
From Middle French collectif, from Latin collēctīvus, from collēctus, past participle of colligō (“I collect”), from com- (“together”) + legō (“I gather”). Compare French collectif. Doublet of colectivo.

## Easily confused with
- **corrective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collective-vs-corrective)
- **connective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collective-vs-connective)
- **convective** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collective-vs-convective)
- **collectives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collective-vs-collectives)
- **collectively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collective-vs-collectively)
- **collection** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collection-vs-collective)
- **collecting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collecting-vs-collective)
- **collectible** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collectible-vs-collective)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ccollective`, `clolective`, `colective`, `colelctive`, `collcetive`, `collecctive`, `collecitve`, `collectiev`, `collectivve`, `collecttive`, `collectvie`, `colletcive`, `ocllective`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/collective