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synergy

SIN-er-jee /ˈsɪn.ə.dʒi/

nounC1GRESATGMAT

businessacademic

The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

Synergy specifically implies that the combination produces a unique, superior result that neither party could have achieved alone. It is not just working together; it is a force multiplier.

The story behind the word. Synergy entered English in the 17th century as a theological term describing the cooperation of human will and divine grace in salvation. It wasn't until the mid-20th century that biologists, and later corporate executives, adopted it to describe systems where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Word relationships

collaboration: Collaboration is the act of working together, whereas synergy is the enhanced result of that working together.
alliance: An alliance is a formal agreement to cooperate, while synergy is the functional, energetic outcome of cooperation.

antagonism: Antagonism refers to an interaction where two agents actively oppose or diminish each other's effects.
discord: Discord is a state of disagreement or lack of harmony, preventing any productive combined effect.

Commonly confused with

energy: Energy is the capacity for doing work, while synergy is the cooperative combination of multiple energies.

Word family

synergistic (adjective): Relating to or producing synergy.
synergistically (adverb): In a way that produces synergy.
synergize (verb): To combine forces to produce synergy.

Collocations

exploit synergy
create synergy
corporate synergy
powerful synergy

Example sentences

"The merger was designed to exploit the synergy between the two companies' research and distribution networks." A business analysis of corporate mergers.
"There's a synergy between the two drugs which makes them more effective when taken together." A scientific discussion on drug interactions.

Memory hook

Think of 'syn' (together) + 'energy'. When separate energies combine, they create a super-energy: synergy. Combined energy is synergy.

When not to use

Do not use synergy to describe simple cooperation where the outcome is just the predictable sum of individual efforts. For example, two people carrying a heavy log is cooperation, not synergy.

Fun facts

In pharmacology, synergy explains why mixing certain medications (or alcohol and sedatives) can be lethal, as their combined effect is far stronger than expected.