noun
synergy
SIH-nuhd-zhee
noun
1
The extra benefit gained when people, groups, or things combine and work together, greater than what each could achieve alone.
"The merger was pitched to investors as a source of real synergy between the two companies."
"There's a natural synergy between the marketing and design teams."
2
In medicine, the effect of two drugs working together to produce a stronger result than either would alone.
"The two medications showed dangerous synergy when taken together."
How to Use Synergy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe idea that combining forces produces more than the sum of the parts.
Common mistake
Overused as corporate jargon — often criticized as a buzzword when used vaguely instead of describing a specific benefit.
Common pairings
create synergy
synergy between teams
lack of synergy
Word Forms
synergies plural
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The merger was pitched to investors as a source of real _____ between the two companies.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek sunergia, "cooperation," from syn- ("with, together") and ergon ("work").