noun

synergy

/ˈsɪnərdʒi/ · say it: SIN·er·jee

combined value greater than the sum of parts

In more detail

1. (noun) the interaction of two or more things that produces a combined effect greater than the sum of individual effects

2. (noun) the cooperation between people or groups to achieve a common goal

Examples

1. The synergy between the marketing and sales teams increased our company's revenue significantly. 2. The two musicians created great synergy when they performed together as a duo.

How to use synergy

Synergy describes the multiplicative effect when elements work together, emphasizing that the result exceeds what separate efforts would achieve. It is widely used in business, science, and organizational contexts, though it has become somewhat clichéd in corporate jargon. It carries a positive, aspirational tone and typically implies intentional coordination rather than accidental overlap.

Common phrases

create synergy
leverage synergy
synergy between teams
achieve synergy
powerful synergy
strategic synergy

Synonyms

collaboration · cooperation · partnership · teamwork · combined effort

Opposites

conflict · discord · fragmentation

Word family

synergistic (adjective) · synergistically (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use synergy to mean simply cooperation or teamwork without the crucial implication that the combined effect is greater than individual efforts alone.

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