collective nouns Definition

1. A singular noun which refers to a group of people, animals, things, etc, such as cast, flock, gang.

○ Collective nouns, or group nouns, are nouns like committee, government, orchestra, and team, which are singular in form but denote a number or group of individuals.

○ Because of the special meaning they have, they can be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether the group is being thought of as a unit or as a number of individuals.

○ There are further notes at the entries for some of these words. See also the notes at majority, none.