Collectively means together as a group, rather than individually. When a class collectively decides on a field trip destination, everyone contributes to the choice instead of one person deciding alone. When scientists say that humans collectively produce billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, they mean the total from all people added together, not any single person.

The word emphasizes group action or shared results. A neighborhood might collectively raise money for a new playground, with many families each contributing what they can. A sports team wins or loses collectively: even though different players have different roles, the outcome belongs to everyone.

Collectively often appears when discussing large groups or communities: “The students collectively scored higher this year” or “Americans collectively own millions of pets.” It can also describe joint responsibility or shared ownership, like when a committee collectively agrees on a decision, meaning they all accept it together rather than having some members disagree.

The opposite would be individually or separately. One student might excel individually on a test, but the class performs collectively on group projects.