synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsi-nər-jē How to pronounce synergy (audio)
plural synergies
1
: synergism
broadly : combined action or operation
2
: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts)

Did you know?

An old saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", expresses the basic meaning of synergy. The word is sometimes used in a purely physical sense, especially when talking about drugs; sometimes a "cocktail" of drugs may be more effective than the sum of the effectiveness of each of the separate drugs. But the word is best known in the world of business. The notion that, when the right two companies merge, they'll produce a profitable synergy seemed exciting in the 1990s, when synergy became a trendy buzzword (even though it's actually been around since the 17th century). The idea of synergy was one factor in what became a "merger mania;" unfortunately, business synergy often turned out to be harder to achieve than to imagine.

Examples of synergy in a Sentence

A synergy has developed among the different groups working on this project. two companies that have found synergy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Corporate synergy abounds on many of the other major streamers. Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 With the sun harmonizing with Saturn retrograde, this astrological synergy can be equally empowering and illuminating. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Because of the synergies between the human and animal nutrition sides tied to buying raw materials, there is no plan to separate those businesses, the CEO adds. Richard Collings, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024 Evercore analysts believe Kuiper is well-positioned to succeed as part of the Amazon ecosystem, noting synergies with AWS’ existing cloud infrastructure and the potential to bundle the service with Prime. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for synergy 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synergy was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near synergy

Cite this Entry

“Synergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synergy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

synergy

noun
syn·​er·​gy ˈsin-ər-jē How to pronounce synergy (audio)
plural synergies

More from Merriam-Webster on synergy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!